CONDUIT DEVICE FOR USE WITH A VENTRICULAR ASSIST DEVICE

• US 20120059212A1
• Filed: 08/05/2011
• Published: 03/08/2012
• Est. Priority Date: 08/06/2010
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Heartware,Inc. (Medtronic Plc)
• Original Assignee: Heartware,Inc. (Medtronic Plc)
• Inventors: LaRose, Jeffrey A., Godshall, Douglas E.
• Granted Patent: US 8,870,739 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 60/178 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 60/232 Centrifugal pumps
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 60/237 the blood flow through the rotating member having mainly axial components, e.g. axial flow pumps
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 60/863 Apex rings
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 60/89 Valves
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 60/894 Passive valves, i.e. valves actuated by the blood

Abstract

The present invention is a conduit device designed to be placed within a wall of a heart, such as through a prepared opening or hole in the heart wall. The conduit is hollow and extends to form a sleeve over a portion of the heart pump, such as a VAD, which traverses the heart wall and enters a chamber of the heart. The conduit provides for a simplified and noninvasive approach to removal and/or replacement of the heart pump.

Claims

1. A conduit device adapted for placement within a wall of a heart, comprising a hollow generally cylindrical body, having an interior bore, the body being adapted for engagement with a portion of a heart pump and an exterior surface, the body comprising a tissue-growth promoting material adapted to promote growth of tissue on the exterior surface.

2. The conduit device of claim 1, wherein the portion of the heart pump is removable from the conduit device.

3. The conduit device of claim 1, wherein the conduit device is adapted to be fixedly connected to an implant connector, and the implant connector is adapted for removable engagement with the heart pump.

4. The conduit device of claim 1, wherein the material comprises sintered titanium microspheres or a growth-promoting textile.

5. The conduit device of claim 1, wherein the conduit device is substantially cylindrical.

6. The conduit device of claim 1, wherein the conduit device includes a taper along at least a portion of the length.

7. The conduit device of claim 1, wherein the body has a leading end adapted for positioning within the heart, the device further comprising a coring projection extending from the leading end of the body.

8. The conduit device of claim 1, further comprising a valve fixedly secured within the interior bore of the conduit and having an open position in which the valve occludes the bore and a closed position in which the valve does not occlude the bore.

9. The conduit device of claim 8, wherein the valve comprises a one-way valve and includes a plurality of closure elements resiliently biased towards one another and wherein the body is adapted to engage the portion of the pump so that the portion projects between the closure elements.

10. The conduit device of claim 9, wherein the closure elements are adapted to form a seal around the portion of the pump when the portion is received in the bore and through the valve.

11. The conduit device of claim 8, wherein the valve has a duckbill-shape.

12. The conduit device of claim 1, wherein the conduit device is secured to the wall of the heart by an implant connector and an at least one length of suture.

13. The conduit device of claim 1, wherein the body has a leading end adapted for placement within the heart and a trailing end, and wherein the body is adapted to engage a portion of a pump adjacent the trailing end so that the conduit acts as an inflow tube for the heart pump.

14. The conduit device of claim 1, wherein the body has a leading end adapted for placement within the heart and a trailing end, and the body is adapted to engage a portion of the pump so that the portion of the pump extends into the bore from the trailing end.

18. A device for assisting the flow of blood through at least a portion of the heart, the device comprising the combination of a heart pump and a conduit device of claim 1 or claim 15, a portion of the heart pump being engaged with the interior bore of the conduit device.

19. The device of claim 18, wherein the portion of the heart pump comprises an inflow tube extending from the pump, through the interior bore, and to a chamber of the heart.

20. The device of claim 19, wherein the inflow tube has a length which is longer than the length of the conduit device.

21. The device of claim 18, wherein the portion of the heart pump comprises a body of an axial flow pump.

22. The device of claim 18, further comprising an implant connector, wherein the conduit device is fixedly connected to the implant connector, and the implant connector is removably engaged with the heart pump.

15. A conduit device adapted for placement within a wall of a heart, comprising a hollow generally cylindrical body, having an interior bore and a valve, the body being adapted for engagement with an inflow tube extending from a heart pump, through the bore and the valve, and to a chamber of the heart, wherein the valve is adapted to minimize blood flow out of the heart and the conduit device is adapted to be fixedly connected to an implant connector, and the implant connector is adapted for removable engagement with the heart pump.

16. The conduit device of claim 15, wherein the body comprises a tissue-growth promoting material.

17. The conduit device of claim 15, wherein the inflow tube has a length which is longer than the length of the conduit device.