Percutaneous gas-line

• US 20070021830A1
• Filed: 10/28/2004
• Published: 01/25/2007
• Est. Priority Date: 10/31/2003
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Nuwellis, Inc.
• Original Assignee: Sunshine Heart Company Pty, Ltd. (Nuwellis, Inc.)
• Inventors: Peters, William
• Granted Patent: US 7,887,478 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 623/3.100
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 60/161 mechanically acting upon the outside of the patient's blood vessel structure, e.g. compressive structures placed around a vessel
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 60/289 Devices for mechanical circulatory actuation assisting the residual heart function by means mechanically acting upon the patient's native heart or blood vessel structure, e.g. direct cardiac compression [DCC] devices
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 60/468 the force acting on the actuation means being hydraulic or pneumatic
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 60/515 Regulation using real-time patient data
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 60/878 Electrical connections within the patient's body
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 60/88 Percutaneous cables

Abstract

A percutaneous gas-line (10) for a medical device (14). The gas-line including a first gas-line part (10a) and a second gas-line part (10b). The first gas-line part (10a) is adapted to be wholly implanted in a patient and has a first end (10a′) adapted for sealing connection to the medical device (14) and a second end (10a″) with a connection fitting (20). The second gas-line part (10b) is adapted to be part-implanted and part-external and has a first (external) end (10b′) adapted for sealing connection to an external driver (12) and a second (implanted) end (10b″) adapted for removable sealing connection with the connection fitting (20) on the second end (10a″) of the first gas-line part (10a).

Claims

1. A percutaneous gas-line for a medical device, the gas-line including:

a first gas-line part adapted to be wholly implanted in a patient and having a first end adapted for sealing connection to the medical device and a second end with a connection fitting; and

a second gas-line part adapted to be part-implanted and part-external and having a first (external) end adapted for sealing connection to an external driver and a second (implanted) end adapted for removable sealing connection with the connection fitting on the second end of the first gas-line part.

2. The gas-line as claimed in claim 1, wherein the second gas-line part is further adapted to be removable, for replacement, in the presence of persistent exit-site infection.

3. The gas-line as claimed in claim 2, wherein the first (external) end of the second gas line is removably connected to the external driver.

4. The gas-line as claimed in claim 1, wherein an ECG lead adapted to connect a patients heart with a control system for a heart assist device is incorporated into the first gas line part and/or the second gas line part.

5. The gas-line as claimed in claim 1, wherein the second gas-line part is constructed to have a minimal outside diameter, high flexibility and a resistance to kinking.

6. The gas-line as claimed in claim 5, wherein the second gas-line part has an outside diameter less than 7 mm.

7. The gas-line as claimed in claim 1, wherein the second gas-line part is made of a soft biocompatible, biostable material.

8. The gas-line as claimed in claim 7, wherein the second gas-line part is made from silicone 45-65A durometer.

9. The gas-line as claimed in claim 1, wherein the connection fitting is a or similar gas-tight fitting.

10. The gas-line as claimed in claim 1, wherein the first and/or second gas-line parts have a fluffy polyester, or similar, collar over about a short section of their implanted length.

11. A method of providing heart assistance to a patient using a percutaneous gas-line having a first gas-line part, adapted to be wholly implanted, and a second gas-line part, adapted to be part implanted and part external, connected to the first gas-line part, the method including the steps of:

(1) a persistent exit-site infection;

(2) disconnecting the second gas-line part from the first gas-line part;

(3) removing the second gas-line part from the patient; and

(4) connecting a sterile second gas-line part to the first gas-line part wherein the fresh second gas-line part is inserted through a fresh exit-site that is remote to the infected exit-site.

12. The method as claimed in claim 11, wherein the fresh second gas-line part is inserted through an implant tunnel that is also substantially remote from the existing implant tunnel.

13. The method as claimed in claim 11, wherein after step (3), the first gas-line part is sealed and wounds are closed to allow healing to occur.

14. A gas line for connecting an inflatable heart assist actuator to a driver therefore, the gas line having a first end operatively connected to the inflatable actuator and a second end connectable, directly or indirectly through an extension gas line, to the driver for the heart assist actuator, the gas line having attached to it an ECG lead, the ECG lead having a first end adapted for connection to the heart of a patient and a second end adapted for connection to the driver or a controller for the driver, the attachment between the gas lead and the ECG lead being such that they are adapted to pass through the skin of a patient as a single element.