Heart valve

• US 4,661,107 A
• Filed: 07/21/1986
• Issued: 04/28/1987
• Est. Priority Date: 07/21/1986
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Irving E. Fink
• Original Assignee: Irving E. Fink
• Inventors: Fink, Irving E.
• Primary Examiner(s): Apley, Richard J.
• Assistant Examiner(s): Prizant, James
• Application Number:
  US06/887,823
• Time in Patent Office: 281 Days
• Field of Search: 137/554, 623/2, 623/24-26, 128/419 PS
• US Class Current: 623/2.34
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 2/2409 Support rings therefor, e.g. for connecting valves to tissue annuloplasty rings A61F2/2442
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 2/2421 with non-pivoting rigid closure members
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 2250/0001 Means for transferring electromagnetic energy to implants
• CPC Class Codes: A61N 1/3785 generated by biological activity or substance, e.g. body movement

Abstract

A pacemaker battery charging system that utilizes the pumping action of a modified heart valve to recharge the battery of the pacemaker by creating a current inductance as the valve operates, which current is supplied to the pacemaker'"'"'s rechargeable battery.

Claims

1. An artificial heart valve composed of materials which are inert to the human body and which is capable of creating an electrical inductance which comprises:

a. a valve housing having an annular base with a coil of wire encapsulated in a suitable plastic disposed around the perimeter of the annular base, said base having an opening therein,

b. a pair of electrical leads emanating from said coil for attachment to an electrical circuit,

c. a valve element having a magnet disposed therein, said element having a north pole and a south pole, said valve element adapted for movement within the valve housing whereby on the movement of said element from a distant position to a proximal position, the element closes off the opening in said annular base, thereby causing a current to be induced.

2. The artificial heart valve of claim 1 wherein the valve element is bell shaped.

3. The artificial heart valve of claim 1 wherein the valve element is spherical.

4. The artificial heart valve of claim 1 wherein the encapsulated material is selected from the group consisting of polycarbonate, nylon and polytetrafluoroethylene.

5. A pacemaker rechargeable battery charging system comprising in combination:

a. a heart valve comprising an occluder element which contains a magnet and is capable of providing an inducted AC current,

b. a diode rectifier electrically connected to said valve,

c. a battery charger electrically connected to said diode rectifier and,

d. a rechargeable battery adapted for use in a pacemaker, electrically connected to said battery charger.

6. The pacemaker battery recharging system of claim 5 further including a current limiting means interposed in system'"'"'s circuitry.

7. The pacemaker battery recharging system of claim 5 wherein the artificial heart valve capable of providing an induced current includes a valve housing having an annular base around which is disposed an encapsulated wire coil from which emanates a pair of leads and a central opening and a valve element having a magnet therein, said element adapted cooperate with said valve element whereby on closing of the opening in said valve housing a current is induced.