JET PUMP CARDIAC REPLACEMENT AND ASSIST DEVICE AND METHOD OF AT LEAST PARTIALLY REPLACING A DISABLED RIGHT HEART

• US 3,667,069 A
• Filed: 03/27/1970
• Issued: 06/06/1972
• Est. Priority Date: 03/27/1970
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Demetre M. Nicoloff, Frank D. Dorman, Perry L. Blackshear, Richard J. Forstrom
• Original Assignee: Demetre M. Nicoloff, Frank D. Dorman, Perry L. Blackshear, Richard J. Forstrom
• Inventors: Blackshear, Perry L., Forstrom, Richard J., Nicoloff, Demetre M., Dorman, Frank D.
• Primary Examiner(s): Truluck, Dalton L.
• Assistant Examiner(s): Frinks, Ronald L.
• Application Number:
  US05/023,388
• Time in Patent Office: 802 Days
• Field of Search: 3/1,DIG.2 128/1R,214,DIG.3 417/183,194,195,196
• US Class Current: 623/3.1
• 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 60/196 replacing the entire heart, e.g. total artificial hearts [TAH]
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 60/211 using a jet, venturi or entrainment effect for pumping the blood
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 60/405 the force acting on the blood contacting member being hydraulic or pneumatic
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 60/577 High-frequency driving

Abstract

An implantable jet pump cardiac replacement device and method for replacing or assisting the right heart. The jet pump device is an elongated tubular structure including an upstream driving nozzle from which a driving flow of arterial blood under pressure is ejected into a suction nozzle creating a zone of reduced pressure to cause venous blood to be sucked into and admixed with the driving flow for distribution to the pulmonary circulation system. The pump may be powered by blood pumped by the left heart or an artificial replacement for the left heart.

Claims

1. An implantable jet pump cardiac replacement and assist device comprising:

A. an elongated tubular housing, said housing being of a size adapted to implantation in a living being and of lightweight material compatible with body fluids, B. an inwardly tapering suction nozzle inlet adjacent to the upstream end of said housing, C. an inwardly tapering concentric driving nozzle within said tubular housing, the downstream end of said driving nozzle being in fluid communication with said suction nozzle and associated with said suction nozzle to create a zone of reduced pressure therein, D. a suction plenum upstream from and in fluid communication with said suction nozzle, said plenum including means for connection to receive venous blood of the recipient living being, E. means for connecting said driving nozzle to a source of arterial blood of the recipient living being, F. a mixing chamber within said housing downstream from said suction and driving nozzles and in fluid communication therewith, G. a discharge outlet downstream from said mixing chamber, and H. means for connecting said discharge outlet to the pulmonary circulation system of the recipient living being.

2. an inwardly tapering suction nozzle inlet adjacent to the upstream end of said housing,

3. A device according to claim 1 further characterized in that:

A. said driving nozzle is an annular orifice tapering radially inwardly and encircling the downstream end of said suction nozzle, B. an annular chamber of greater diameter and greater cross-sectional area surrounds said driving nozzle, and C. said drivIng nozzle is in direct fluid communication with said annular chamber and said annular chamber is in direct fluid communication with said means for connection with a source of arterial blood.

4. a suction plenum upstream from and in fluid communication with said suction nozzle,

5. a device according to claim 1 further characterized in that the blood contacting surfaces of the inside of the housing, the inside of the suction nozzle, the inside and outside of the drive nozzle, the inside of the suction plenum, the inside of the mixing chamber and the inside of said connecting means and discharge outlet are comprised of an anti-thrombogenic and anti-hemolytic material.

6. a mixing chamber within said housing downstream from said suction and driving nozzles and in fluid communication therewith,

7. A device according to claim 6 further characterized in that said discharge outlet comprises an outwardly tapered diffuser of between about 6* and 30* and an exit diameter between about 1 to 2.5 centimeters corresponding to the diameter of the pulmonary artery.

8. means for connecting said discharge outlet to the pulmonary circulation system. B. connecting the suction plenum of said jet pump to receive venous blood from the right atrium of the heart, and C. connecting the discharge outlet from said jet pump to the pulmonary circulation system.

9. A method according to claim 8 further charactErized in that the driving nozzle is connected to the aorta.

10. A method according to claim 8 further characterized in that the driving nozzle is connected to an artificial pump replacement for the left heart.

11. A method according to claim 8 further characterized in that the tricuspid and pulmonary valves of said right heart are made incompetent and said jet pump is implanted within the heart between the right ventricle and pulmonary artery as a total replacement of the right heart.

12. A method according to claim 8 further characterized in that one end of said jet pump is connected externally of the heart to the right atrium of the heart and the other end of said pump is connected externally of the heart to the pulmonary artery in parallel with the right heart as an assist to the right heart.