Circulatory assist device and system

• US 4,014,318 A
• Filed: 05/22/1975
• Issued: 03/29/1977
• Est. Priority Date: 08/20/1973
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: James M. Dockum, Norman H. Nitzkowski
• Original Assignee: James M. Dockum, Norman H. Nitzkowski
• Inventors: Nitzkowski, Norman H., Dockum, James M.
• Primary Examiner(s): Truluck, Dalton L.
• Application Number:
  US05/579,892
• Time in Patent Office: 677 Days
• Field of Search: 128/1 D, 128/214 R, 128/273, 128/346, 128/DIG. 3, 3/1.7, 417/412, 417/413, 417/474, 417/475, 417/479, 417/480, 137/527
• US Class Current: 600/16
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 5/14228 with linear peristaltic action, i.e. comprising at least three pressurising members or a helical member
• 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 60/284 Linear peristaltic pumps
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 60/449 generated by a solenoid
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 60/508 Electronic control means, e.g. for feedback regulation
• 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
• CPC Class Codes: F04B 53/105 one flexible element oscillating around a fixed point
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 137/7898 Pivoted valves

Abstract

A circulatory assist device and system are provided for controlling, wholly or partially, the pumping of blood through a blood vessel or vascular prosthesis. The assist device is comprised of an electrically operated plunger, or equivalent, which momentarily occludes the blood vessel to effect pumping. Preferably, a plurality of the assist devices are mounted adjacent each other and are sequentially actuated to sequentially occlude adjacent segments of the associated blood vessel, thereby creating a pumping action. The assist devices are implantable at various locations in the body and may be provided in appropriate size and number to effectively replace heart action. Valves may be utilized to enhance the efficiency or provide pumping with a single assist device.

Claims

1. A miniaturized heart substitute implantable into the body of a living animal comprising a first tubular prosthesis adapted to be incorporated into the pulmonary artery with an inlet end thereof adapted to be communicated with the superior vena cava and the inferior vena cava, a second tubular prosthesis adapted to be incorporated into the aorta with an inlet end adapted to be communicated with the pulmonary vein, said prostheses being arranged in parallel, side-by-side relation, each tubular prosthesis being flexible and resilient and including a pair of longitudinally spaced valve means for one way flow therethrough, and a circulatory assist device associated with said tubular prostheses for sequentially and cyclically collaspsing portions of each tubular prosthesis from an inlet end toward the discharge end for pumping blood through the prostheses in a manner equivalent to the pumping action of a natural heart, said device including a pair of parallel, spaced, elongated stationary abutments receiving the tubular prostheses therebetween, movable members positioned between the tubular prostheses in opposed relation to the stationary abutments, and independent magnetically actuated means independently moving said movable members sequentially toward and away from the abutments for pumping blood through each tubular prosthesis, said magnetically actuated means including a solenoid for each movable member, each solenoid including a housing, a coil winding in said housing, a magnetic member connected to the movable member and associated with the coil winding for reciprocation of the movable member, said abutments being rigid with said housing and interconnected by an extension integral with the housing and disposed at one edge of the abutments, the opposite edges of the abutments being free, each movable member having an extension thereon parallel to the extension on the housing and extending over the free edge of the abutment adjacent the magnetic member and connected to the magnetic member, said magnetic members being generally in alignment with the longitudinal center of the tubular prosthesis, said valve means including a valve ring and disc flap assembly disposed interiorly of the prosthesis, said housing including annular recess means receiving said valve ring, said valve ring having a diameter greater than the prosthesis for anchoring the valve means and prosthesis in said recess means.

2. A circulatory assist device for controlled occlusion of a tubular prosthesis, said device comprising:

a housing, a tubular prosthesis extending therethrough, a pair of occlusion members supported by said housing and normally spaced apart from each other by a dimension sufficient to receive the tubular prosthesis between said pair of members, and magnetic associated with said housing for effecting periodic reciprocal movement of at least one of said occlusion members toward the other to decrease said space and cause occlusion of the tubular prosthesis occupying said space, said tubular prosthesis having valve means therein on opposite sides of the occlusion members, said housing including a passageway receiving said prosthesis, said valve means distending said tubular prosthesis outwardly into mounting engagement with the periphery of the passageway, said passageway including a peripheral recess where it exits from the housing, said valve means including a split resilient ring having a diameter greater than the interior diameter of the prosthesis for distending the prosthesis outwardly and anchoring it and the valve means to the housing.

3. The structure as defined in claim 2 wherein said valve means includes a flap type disc valve swingably connected to said ring by a hinge tab.

4. The structure as defined in claim 3 wherein said ring, disc valve and hinge tab are constructed of unitary plastic material having resilient and memory characteristics.

5. The structure as defined in claim 3 wherein one of said occlusion members is a wall of the passageway, the other of the occlusion members including a reciprocal member defining a portion of the armature of an electromagnet, a partition wall sealingly and reciprocally receiving said reciprocal member for isolating the electromagnet from the prosthesis.

6. The structure as defined in claim 3 together with a second tubular prosthesis extending through said housing, a second pair of occlusion members and a second magnetic means for effecting periodic reciprocal movement of one of the occlusion members of the second pair.

7. A circulatory assist device for at least partially collapsing a tubular prosthesis, said device comprising:

a housing, a flexible, resilient tubular prosthesis extending therethrough, a pair of prosthesis engaging members supported by said housing and normally spaced apart from each other by a dimension sufficient to receive the tubular prosthesis therebetween, and magnetic means associated with said housing for effecting periodic reciprocal movement of at least one of said prosthesis engaging members toward the other to decrease the space therebetween and cause at least partial collapse of the tubular prothesis occupying said space, said tubular prosthesis having valve means therein on opposite sides of the prosthesis engaging members, said housing including a recess receiving said prosthesis, said valve means being supported by said housing at opposite end portions of said recess, one of said prosthesis engaging members being a wall of the recess, the other of said prosthesis engaging members including a movable member opposed to the wall of the recess and being movable toward and away therefrom, and an electromagnetic in said housing in sealed relation to the recess and connected with the movable member for moving it in relation to the tubular prosthesis and the wall of the recess, said housing including a peripheral groove at each end of the recess, said valve means being disposed interiorly of the tubular prosthesis and includes a perimeter greater than the interior of the prosthesis for distending the prosthesis into the peripheral groove for mounting the valve means and prosthesis stationarily with respect to the housing.

8. The structure as defined in claim 7, wherein said valve means includes an annular peripheral member having an interior perimeter generally equal to the interior of the tubular prosthesis, and a flap valve hingedly connected to said annular member for pivotal movement in relation to the longitudinal axis of the prosthesis.