Means and method of pumping fluids, particularly biological fluids

• US 5,129,789 A
• Filed: 04/23/1990
• Issued: 07/14/1992
• Est. Priority Date: 04/23/1990
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Advanced Medical Optics Incorporated (Johnson & Johnson)
• Original Assignee: Advanced Medical Optics Incorporated (Johnson & Johnson)
• Inventors: Phillips, Steven J., Thornton, Kenneth O.
• Primary Examiner(s): Michalsky, Gerald A.
• Application Number:
  US07/512,821
• Time in Patent Office: 813 Days
• Field of Search: 417/322, 417/410, 417/53, 600/16, 604/151, 623/3
• US Class Current: 417/53
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 2205/33 Controlling, regulating or measuring
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 2205/3303 Using a biosensor
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 60/117 for assisting the heart, e.g. transcutaneous or external ventricular assist devices
• 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 60/462 Electromagnetic force
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 60/515 Regulation using real-time patient data
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 60/569 synchronous with the native heart beat
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 60/592 Communication of patient or blood pump data to distant operators for treatment purposes
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 60/837 Aspects of flexible displacement members, e.g. shapes or materials
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 60/851 Valves
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 60/873 specially adapted for wireless or transcutaneous energy transfer [TET], e.g. inductive charging
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 60/896 having flexible or resilient parts, e.g. flap valves
• CPC Class Codes: F04B 43/095 Piezoelectric drive

Abstract

A system for pumping of fluids, particularly biological fluids such as blood, including a tubular length of magnetostrictive material. One-way valves are positioned generally in opposite ends of the tubular material. Fluid flow conduits are connected to the opposite ends of the tubular material. A magnetic field is imposed, generally by an electric coil, in a pulsed fashion to the tubular material to cause alternatingly magnetostriction and relaxation of the tubular material. This causes a reciprocating variation in the distance between the one-way valves which oppositely are opened and closed to produce a pumping action through the tubular material.

Claims

1. A method of pumping useable blood comprising:

connecting a useable blood inlet conduit and a useable blood outlet conduit to a length of magnetostrictive tubing having a longitudinal axis;

keeping the length of magnetostrictive tubing under compression along its longitudinal axis; and

imposing a pulsed electromagnetic field on the tubing to cause magnetostriction of the tubing and blood displacement in one direction.

3. The method of claim 1 further comprising the step of controlling the amplitude of the pulsed electromagnetic field.

4. The method of claim 1 further comprising the step of controlling the frequency of the pulsed magnetic field.

2. The method of claim 2 wherein the electromagnetic field is pulsed by a DC power source.

5. The method of claim 5 wherein a permanent magnet is utilized when generating the pulsed electromagnetic field.