ARTIFICIAL HEART

• US 3,720,485 A
• Filed: 07/01/1971
• Issued: 03/13/1973
• Est. Priority Date: 07/01/1971
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Norman W. Holman Jr
• Original Assignee: Norman W. Holman Jr
• Inventors: Holman, Norman W. Jr.
• Primary Examiner(s): Croyle, Carlton R.
• Assistant Examiner(s): Gluck, Richard E.
• Application Number:
  US05/158,925
• Time in Patent Office: 621 Days
• Field of Search: 417/412,413,474,475,479,394,430 3/1,DIG.2
• US Class Current: 417/413.1
• 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 60/196 replacing the entire heart, e.g. total artificial hearts [TAH]
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 60/274 the inlet and outlet being the same, e.g. para-aortic counter-pulsation blood pumps
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 60/284 Linear peristaltic pumps
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 60/449 generated by a solenoid
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 60/892 Active valves, i.e. actuated by an external force
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 60/894 Passive valves, i.e. valves actuated by the blood
• CPC Class Codes: F04B 43/082 the tubular flexible member being pressed against a wall by a number of elements, each having an alternating movement in a direction perpendicular to the axes of the tubular member and each having its own driving mechanism
• CPC Class Codes: F04B 43/086 with two or more tubular flexible members in parallel F04B43/1136 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: F04B 43/09 Pumps having electric drive

Abstract

A pump, the construction of which makes it suitable for implantation in the human body, comprising a pair of pumping chambers of flexible material in the form of tubes having one closed end and one open end. A plurality of solenoids is arranged sequentially and alternately, starting adjacent the closed ends of the tubes, inwardly to distort the tubes, thus expelling fluid from the open ends. The solenoids and tubes are encased in a fluid tight housing maintained under sub-atmospheric pressure so that atmospheric pressure acts on fluid in the tubes, thus to return the tubes to expanded position, drawing a fresh supply of fluid after each pumping cycle. Circuitry and switches are provided to operate the solenoids in proper order.

Claims

1. In a pump, a. a pair of spaced apart elongated pumping chambers formed of resilient material closed at one end and open at the other, there being inlet and outlet check valves connected to the open ends of said chambers, b. means to introduce fluid to be pumped into the open ends of said chambers, c. motorized means between the chambers effective when energized for motion in one direction to inwardly distort one of said chambers in step-like fashion starting adjacent the closed end thereof, whereby fluid in said chamber is expelled from the open end thereof, d. means to energize said motorized means for motion in another direction thereby to inwardly distort the other of said chambers in step-like fashion starting adjacent the closed end thereof, whereby fluid in said second chamber is expelled from the open end thereof, e. means to return said chambers from distorted to expanded positions when said motorized means is out of operative engagement therewith, and f. the maximum inward dIstortion of said chambers being such that there remain continuous passages through the length of the same filled with the fluid being pumped, whereby when said motorized means shifts from operative connection with one of said chambers to operative connection with the other, fluid is free to flow into the chamber from which the shift is being made.

2. A pump as defined in claim 1 in which the motorized means is a plurality of solenoids having their armatures spaced along and located between the chambers, and means to energize the solenoids individually in sequence relative to each of the chambers starting with the solenoid adjacent the closed ends of the chambers, thereby to accomplish the aforesaid expulsion of fluid from the chambers.

3. A pump as defined in claim 1 in which the flexible chambers and said motorized means are enclosed in a fluid tight housing in such fashion that the insides of the chambers are subject to atmospheric pressure, and means to maintain the inside of said housing under sub-atmospheric pressure, whereby the differential pressure thus resulting serves as means to return the chambers from distorted to expanded positions when released by the distorting means.