Vascular Assist Device and Methods

• US 20070213579A1
• Filed: 05/14/2007
• Published: 09/13/2007
• Est. Priority Date: 10/07/2002
• Status: Abandoned Application

• Current Assignee: Pavad Medical, Inc.
• Original Assignee: Pavad Medical, Inc.
• Inventors: Hegde, Anant, Karabey, Halil
• Application Number:
  US11/748,418
• Publication Number:
  US 20070213579A1
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 600/17
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2017/00871 polymeric
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/0215 by means inserted into the body catheters A61M25/00
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/283 Invasive
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/349 Detecting specific parameters of the electrocardiograph cycle
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/4836 Diagnosis combined with treatment in closed-loop systems or methods A61B5/0036 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/6876 Blood vessel
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 2205/0283 Electro-active polymers [EAP]
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 2205/33 Controlling, regulating or measuring
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 2205/3303 Using a biosensor
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 2205/8243 by induction
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 60/148 in line with a blood vessel using resection or like techniques, e.g. permanent endovascular heart assist devices
• 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 60/486 generated by electro-active actuators, e.g. using electro-active polymers or piezoelectric elements
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 60/873 specially adapted for wireless or transcutaneous energy transfer [TET], e.g. inductive charging
• CPC Class Codes: H10N 30/05 Manufacture of multilayered piezoelectric or electrostrictive devices, or parts thereof, e.g. by stacking piezoelectric bodies and electrodes

Abstract

Several electroactive polymer (EAP) actuated vascular assist devices are provided that can be readily implanted within the body of a patient without coming in direct blood contact. The devices are also readily repositioned and/or removed from contact with the internal vasculature or may even be turned OFF remotely. In addition, there is provided a method of fabrication and a method of implanting such devices. There are also provided methods for the augmentation of a body lumen through the use of hemodynamic signals such as pressure or ECG signals to synchronize EAP actuation in the vascular assist system.

Claims

1. A method for augmenting flow in a body lumen comprising:

detecting a cardiac cycle trigger;

pumping a fluid through the actuation of an electroactive polymer; and

deforming at least a portion of a body lumen in response to the cardiac cycle using the pumped fluid.

2. A method for augmenting flow in a body lumen according to claim 1 wherein deforming a portion of a body lumen is performed by porting the pumped fluid into a deformable cuff to deform at least a portion of a body lumen.

3. A method for augmenting flow in a body lumen according to claim 1 wherein the cardiac trigger is related to an ECG of a human.

4. A method for augmenting flow in a body lumen according to claim 1 wherein the first cardiac trigger is related to the increasing portion of the R-wave.

5. A method for augmenting flow in a body lumen according to claim 4 wherein the first cardiac trigger occurs at 90% of the increasing R-wave amplitude.

6. A method for augmenting flow in a body lumen according to claim 1 wherein the actuation of the electroactive polymer causes the deforming at least a portion of a body lumen to coincide with the ventricular systole.

7. A method for augmenting flow in a body lumen according to claim 1 wherein the cardiac cycle trigger is related to aortic pressure.

8. A method for augmenting flow in a body lumen according to claim 1 wherein the actuation of the electroactive polymer causes the deforming at least a portion of a body lumen to augment flow in a copulsation mode.

9. A method for augmenting flow in a body lumen according to claim 1 wherein the deforming at least a portion of a body lumen occurs during the ventricular systole of the heart.

10. A method for augmenting flow in a body lumen according to claim 1 wherein the cardiac trigger is related to the Q-T interval.

11. A method for augmenting flow in a body lumen according to claim 1 wherein the first cardiac trigger is related to the decreasing portion of the T-wave.

12. A method for augmenting flow in a body lumen according to claim 1 wherein the first cardiac trigger occurs at the end of the T-wave.

13. A method for augmenting flow in a body lumen according to claim 1 wherein the cardiac trigger is related to the T-wave and selected so that deformation of at least a portion of a body lumen coincides with the ventricular diastole.

14. A method for augmenting flow in a body lumen according to claim 1 wherein the body lumen is a blood vessel selected from the group consisting of:

the ascending aorta, the descending aorta, a set of intercostal arteries, a set of intercostal veins, the superior vena cava, the inferior vena cava, the pulmonary vein and the pulmonary artery.