Apparatus for driving blood pump

• US 5,100,374 A
• Filed: 01/23/1990
• Issued: 03/31/1992
• Est. Priority Date: 01/31/1989
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Aisin Seiki Co., Ltd. (Aisin Corp.), Kabushiki Kaisha Shinsangyokaihatsu
• Original Assignee: Aisin Seiki Co., Ltd. (Aisin Corp.)
• Inventors: Kageyama, Toshinobu
• Primary Examiner(s): Howell, Kyle L.
• Assistant Examiner(s): Schaetzle, Kennedy J.
• Application Number:
  US07/468,881
• Time in Patent Office: 798 Days
• Field of Search: 600/16.intg.18, 623/3, 128/691
• US Class Current: 600/17
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 2205/3334 Measuring or controlling the flow rate
• 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 60/268 the displacement member being flexible, e.g. membranes, diaphragms or bladders
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 60/295 Balloon pumps for circulatory assistance
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 60/43 using vacuum at the blood pump, e.g. to accelerate filling
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 60/515 Regulation using real-time patient data
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 60/523 using blood flow data, e.g. from blood flow transducers
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 60/531 using blood pressure data, e.g. from blood pressure sensors
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 60/554 of blood pressure
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 60/585 User interfaces

Abstract

An apparatus for driving a blood pump such as an artificial heart. The apparatus comprises a first pressure pulse generator, a second pressure pulse generator, a pressure detector for detecting the pressure produced by the first pressure pulse generator, a flow sensor for detecting the flow rate of blood passing through the pump, a selector device, and an electrical control unit. Normally, the first pressure generator is connected with the blood pump via the selector device. When the flow rate detected by the flow sensor decreases and the pressure detected by the pressure detector gets out of a normal range of pressures, the electrical control unit causes the selector device to disconnect the first pressure pulse generator from the blood pump and to connect the second pressure pulse generator with the blood pump.

Claims

1. An apparatus for driving a blood pump, comprising:

a pressure pulse generator for producing pressure pulses;

a pressure-detecting means for detecting the pressure produced by the pressure pulse generator;

a flow-detecting means for measuring the flow rate of blood passing through the blood pump; and

an abnormality-detecting means which produces a signal indicating abnormality or fault when the flow rate detected by the flow-detecting means decreases to an abnormal flow rate and, at the same time, the pressure detected by the pressure-detecting means gets out of a normal range of pressures.

2. An apparatus for driving a blood pump, comprising:

a first pressure pulse generator for producing pressure pulses;

a second pressure pulse generator for producing pressure pulses;

a pressure-detecting means for detecting the pressure produced by the first pressure pulse generator;

a flow-detecting means for measuring the flow rate of blood passing through the blood pump;

a selector means connected among the first pressure pulse generator and the second pressure pulse generator, so as to connect the first pressure pulse generator with the blood pump and disconnect the second pressure pulse generator from the blood pump; and

a control means which, when the flow rate detected by the flow-detecting means decreases and the pressure detected by the pressure-detecting means gets out of a normal range of pressure, causes the selector means to disconnect the first pressure pulse generator from the blood pump and to connect the second pressure pulse generator with the blood pump.

3. An apparatus for driving a blood pump as set forth in claim 2, wherein said control means comprises:

an abnormality-detecting means which is included in the first pressure pulse generator and which, when the flow rate detected by the flow-detecting means and the pressure detected by the pressure-detecting means decrease, produces a signal indicating abnormality; and

a selector control means which, when the signal indicating abnormality is being produced by the abnormality-detecting means, causes the selector means to disconnect the first pressure pulse generator from the blood pump and to connect the second pressure pulse generator with the blood pump.

4. An apparatus for driving a blood pump as set forth in claim 2, wherein the second pulse generator and the selector means are unitary.