Fluid Pressure Generating Means

• US 20080027270A1
• Filed: 10/11/2007
• Published: 01/31/2008
• Est. Priority Date: 07/30/2001
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Nuwellis, Inc.
• Original Assignee: Sunshine Heart Company Pty, Ltd. (Nuwellis, Inc.)
• Inventors: Peters, William, Watterson, Peter, Henrichsen, Hans
• Granted Patent: US 8,002,691 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 600/16
• 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 60/446 the axis of both movements being parallel, e.g. roller screw actuators or cylindrical cam transmissions
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 60/869 Compliance chambers containing a gas or liquid other than blood to compensate volume variations of a blood chamber
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 60/878 Electrical connections within the patient's body
• CPC Class Codes: F04B 43/026 each plate-like pumping flexible member working in its own pumping chamber
• CPC Class Codes: F04B 43/04 Pumps having electric drive
• CPC Class Codes: F04B 45/047 Pumps having electric drive

Abstract

A fluid pressure generating means (10) for a heart assist device having blood pumping means. The pressure generating means (10) includes a housing (11), defining an interior volume (18), and having a substantially rigid first housing portion (12), a substantially rigid second housing portion (14), a flexible third housing portion (16) extending between the first (12) and second (14) housing portions and an inlet/outlet port (15) adapted for fluid communication with the blood pumping means. The pressure generating means (10) also includes a fluid filling the housing and a motor (20) disposed within the housing (11) and connected between the first (12) and second (14) housing portions. Actuation of the motor (20) moves the first (12) and second (14) housing portions relative to one another to generate fluid pressure changes at the inlet/outlet port (15). A related heart assist device and method for the treatment of congestive heart failure, myocardial ischemia and like conditions are also disclosed.

Claims

1. A fluid pressure generating device for a heart assist device having blood pumping means, the pressure generating device including:

a housing, defining an interior volume, and having a substantially rigid first housing portion, a substantially rigid second housing portion, a flexible third housing portion extending between the first and second housing portions and an inlet/outlet port connected to one of said housings and adapted for fluid communication with the blood pumping means, the third housing has an outer surface about its periphery, an inner surface facing the interior of the first and second housings and is joined along the outer edge and the inner edge to the first and second housing portions respectively;

a fluid filling the interior volume of the housing; and

a motor disposed within the interior volume of the housing and connected between the first and second housing portions, wherein actuation of the motor moves the first and second housing portions relative to one another to generate fluid pressure changes at the inlet/outlet port.

2. A fluid pressure generating device for a heart assist device having blood pumping means, the pressure generating device including:

a housing, defining an interior volume, and having a substantially rigid first housing portion, a substantially rigid second housing portion, a flexible third housing portion extending between the first and second housing portions and an inlet/outlet port connected to one of said housings and adapted for fluid communication with the blood pumping means, wherein one of the first and second housing portions is moveable and the other of the first and second housing portions is fixed, the moveable housing portion being exposed to the outside of the heart assist device and adapted to interface with the lung of a patient;

a fluid filling the interior volume of the housing; and

a motor disposed within the interior volume of the housing and connected between the first and second housing portions, wherein actuation of the motor moves the first and second housing portions relative to one another to generate fluid pressure changes at the inlet/outlet port.

3. A fluid pressure generating device for a heart assist device having blood pumping means, the pressure generating device including:

a housing, defining an interior volume, and having a substantially rigid first housing portion, a substantially rigid second housing portion, a flexible third housing portion extending between the first and second housing portions and an inlet/outlet port connected to one of said housings and adapted for fluid communication with the blood pumping means;

wherein one of the first and second housing portions is moveable and the other of the first and second housing portions is fixed, the moveable housing portion not being exposed to the outside of the heart assist device and the device including a flexible compliance chamber;

wherein the compliance chamber is adapted to be in contact with the lung of a patient;

a fluid filling the interior volume of the housing; and

a motor disposed within the interior volume of the housing and connected between the first and second housing portions, wherein actuation of the motor moves the first and second housing portions relative to one another to generate fluid pressure changes at the inlet/outlet port.