HEART HELP DEVICE, SYSTEM, AND METHOD

• US 20110196485A1
• Filed: 10/12/2009
• Published: 08/11/2011
• Est. Priority Date: 10/10/2008
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Kirk Promotion Ltd.
• Original Assignee: Kirk Promotion Ltd.
• Inventors: Forsell, Peter
• Granted Patent: US 8,509,894 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 623/3.11
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 1/1049 with means converting the rotation of a motor into a translational movement of the flexible element
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 2205/32 with radio-opaque indicia
• 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 60/178 drawing blood from a ventricle and returning the blood to the arterial system via a cannula external to the ventricle, e.g. left or right ventricular assist devices
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 60/191 mechanically acting upon the outside of the patient's native heart, e.g. compressive structures placed around the heart
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 60/196 replacing the entire heart, e.g. total artificial hearts [TAH]
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 60/226 the blood flow through the rotating member having mainly radial components
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 60/258 Piston pumps
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 60/268 the displacement member being flexible, e.g. membranes, diaphragms or bladders
• 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 60/422 the force acting on the blood contacting member being electromagnetic, e.g. using canned motor pumps
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 60/462 Electromagnetic force
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 60/473 generated by an electromotor
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 60/495 Electromagnetic force
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 60/515 Regulation using real-time patient data
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 60/523 using blood flow data, e.g. from blood flow transducers
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 60/531 using blood pressure data, e.g. from blood pressure sensors
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 60/861 : Connections or anchorings for connecting or anchoring pumps or pumping devices to parts of the patient's body
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 60/865 : Devices for guiding or inserting pumps or pumping devices into the patient's body
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 60/873 : specially adapted for wireless or transcutaneous energy transfer [TET], e.g. inductive charging
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 60/876 : Implantable batteries
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 60/882 : Devices powered by the patient, e.g. skeletal muscle powered devices

Abstract

An implantable device for improving the pump function of the heart of a human patient by applying an external force on the heart muscle is provided. The device comprises at least one heart contacting organ. The heart contacting organ is adapted to be movable to change the position of said force exerted on the heart after the implantable device has been implanted in the human patient. The invention further relates to a method of using said device.

Claims

1. An implantable device for improving the pump function of the heart of a human patient by applying an external force on the heart muscle, said device comprising at least one heart contacting organ, periodically exerting force on the heart muscle following the heart contractions and adding force thereto, wherein said implantable device is adapted to enable change in the position of the force exerted on the heart by said heart contacting organ, such that said heart contacting organ can change from exerting force to a first area of the heart to exerting force to a second area of the heart, after said implantable device has been implanted in the patient.

2. The implantable device according to claim 1, wherein said at least one heart contacting organ comprises at least one hydraulic or pneumatic cushion.

3. The implantable device according to claim 2, wherein said implantable device further comprises a plate, and wherein said at least one hydraulic or pneumatic cushion is placed in connection to said plate, and wherein said plate is adapted to be movable to change the position of said hydraulic or pneumatic cushion and thereby change the position of said force exerted on the heart of the human patient after said implantable device has been implanted in the human patient.

4. The implantable device according to claim 2, wherein said implantable device further comprises a plate, and wherein said at least one hydraulic or pneumatic cushion is placed in connection to said plate, and wherein said plate enables movement of said cushion in relation to said plate to change the position of said hydraulic or pneumatic cushion and thereby change the position of said force exerted on the heart of the human patient after said implantable device has been implanted in the human patient.

5. The implantable device according to claim 2, wherein said implantable device comprises at least a first and second cushion, wherein said first cushion comprises a first chamber having a volume, and wherein said second cushion comprises a second chamber having a second volume, and wherein said first and second volumes are adapted to changeable individually, to influence said force exerted on the heart of the human patient, after said implantable device has been implanted in said human patient.

6. The implantable device according to claim 1, wherein said position of said force exerted on the heart is adapted to be changed after a pre-determined number of heart beats.

7. The implantable device according to according to claim 1, wherein said position of said force exerted on the heart is adapted to be changed after a pre-determined time.

8. The implantable device according to claim 1, wherein said position of said force exerted on the heart is adapted to be changed after receiving a signal from a sensor.

9. The implantable device according to claim 1, wherein said implantable device comprises at least a first and second piston, and wherein said first piston is adapted to move in relation to said second piston to influence said force exerted on the heart of the human patient, after said implantable device has been implanted in the human patient.

10. The implantable medical device according to claim 1, wherein said implantable device comprises at least one operable joint, and wherein said position of said force exerted by said heart contacting organ is adapted to be changed by operation of said at least one operable joint.

11. The implantable medical device according to claim 1, wherein said implantable device comprises a first and a second operable joint, and wherein said position of said force exerted by said heart contacting organ is adapted to be changed by operation of said first and second operable joints.

12. The implantable medical device according to claim 1, wherein said implantable device comprises a first and a second and a third operable joint, and wherein said position of said force exerted by said heart contacting organ is adapted to be changed by operation of said first, second and third operable joints.

13. The implantable medical device according to claim 10, wherein said operable joints are operable translating joints or operable rotating joints.

14. The implantable device according to claim 1, wherein said implantable device is adapted to compress at least one portion of a tissue wall, by said heart contacting organ exerting force on the heart, and wherein said implantable device is further adapted to stimulate at least a portion of the tissue wall of the heart to further compress the tissue wall.

15. The implantable device according to claim 14, wherein said stimulation of the tissue wall of the heart is performed using electrical stimulation.

16. The implantable device according to claim 1, wherein said at least one heart contacting organ comprises a mechanically operated heart contacting organ.

17. The implantable device according to claim 3, wherein said plate comprises a movable operating device.

18. The implantable device according to claim 17, wherein said operation device is electrically powered.

19. The implantable device according to claim 17, wherein said operation device is hydraulically powered.

20. The implantable device according to claim 17, wherein said operation device is pneumatically powered.

21-123. -123. (canceled)