Electrohydraulic ventricular assist device

• US 5,569,156 A
• Filed: 09/09/1994
• Issued: 10/29/1996
• Est. Priority Date: 09/10/1993
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Ottawa Heart Institute Research Corporation
• Original Assignee: Ottawa Heart Institute Research Corporation
• Inventors: Mussivand, Tofy
• Primary Examiner(s): Sykes, Angela D.
• Assistant Examiner(s): Lacyk, John P.
• Application Number:
  US08/303,766
• Time in Patent Office: 781 Days
• Field of Search: 600/16-18, 623/2-3
• US Class Current: 600/16
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 2205/8243 by induction
• 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 60/178 drawing blood from a ventricle and returning the blood to the arterial system via a cannula external to the ventricle, e.g. left or right ventricular assist devices
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 60/432 with diastole or systole switching by stopping or reversing the blood pump operating at a much higher cyclical speed than the heart beat
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 60/538 Regulation using real-time blood pump operational parameter data, e.g. motor current
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 60/585 User interfaces
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 60/873 specially adapted for wireless or transcutaneous energy transfer [TET], e.g. inductive charging
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 60/878 Electrical connections within the patient's body
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 60/894 Passive valves, i.e. valves actuated by the blood

Abstract

The invention is directed to a unified system for an electrohydraulic ventricular assist device adapted for implantation in the thorax and for cannulation to the blood circulatory system comprising an internal electronic controller for generating an actuating signal actuating means far converting the actuating signal into a back arid forth rhythmic displacement of a fluid, a blood pumping chamber having an inflow blood port and an outflow blood port for converting the back and forth displacement of the fluid into a rhythmic unidirectional displacement of blood through the inflow and outflow port, hermetic coupling means for supplying the internal electronic controller with a supply voltage, detecting means for generating the actuating signal in response to the status of the blood pumping chamber, a volume displacement chamber (VDC) acting as a reservoir for the back and forth rhythmic displacement of a fluid, and a support with a surface curvature compatible with the internal human sagittal and transverse chest wall curvatures for supporting the internal electronic controller, the actuating means, the blood pumping chamber, the hermetic coupling means and the detecting means in a compact structure with the blood pumping chamber arranged with the inflow and outflow ports oriented away from the support and the structure with an overall size that when the unified system is placed within the human thorax with the support surface adjacent the chest wall, the structure does not adversely compress adjacent organs.

Claims

1. An electrohydralic ventricular assist device adapted for cannulation to the blood circulatory system comprising;

unified system means adapted to be implanted in a human thorax proximal to the human heart to replace or assist a ventricle including an internal electronic controller for generating an actuating signal, a blood pumping means with an inflow blood port and an outflow blood port for cannulation to the blood circulatory system, said pumping means displacing blood through said inflow and outflow ports in response to said actuating signal and said unified system being contained within a housing the back of which has a convex surface curvature compatible with the internal human sagittal and transverse chest wail curvatures, said housing containing a support for said internal electronic controller and containing said blood pumping means in a compact structure with said inflow and outflow ports oriented away from the front of said housing, and said structure with an overall size and geometry such that when the unified system is placed within the human thorax with the back of said housing surface adjacent the chest wall, said structure does not adversely compress adjacent organs, create dead space or limit chest closure;

rechargeable internal battery means adapted for subcutaneous implantation producing an internal supply voltage for said unified system means;

external power supply source means for providing a DC voltage;

external electronic controller means for converting said DC voltage received from said external power supply source to an AC supply voltage and for generating a recharge signal for said internal battery;

transcutaneous energy transformer (TET) means for transmitting said AC supply voltage and said recharge signal across the skin to said unified system;

first coupling means for connecting said internal battery means to said unified system means;

second coupling means for connecting said unified system means to said transcutaneous energy transformer means to receive said AC supply voltage and for establishing a communication channel between said external controller and said unified system.

2. A device as claimed in claim 1, further comprising computer interface means for connecting said external electronic controller to a computer for controlling and monitoring said unified system and further comprising display means for control status and alarm display.

3. A device as claimed in claim 1, wherein said transcutaneous energy transformer means comprises:

external coil means for transmitting said AC supply voltage; and

internal coil means for receiving said AC supply voltage, wherein said transcutaneous energy transformer further comprises a transcutanecus information telemetry system means for transmitting and receiving said communication channel data streams carrying control and monitoring data between said external controller and said Unified System via said external coil and said internal coil.

4. A device as claimed in claim 3, wherein said first coupling means comprises a first set conductors and said second coupling means comprises a second set of conductors, said unified system comprising a feedthrough cover for hermetic trespass of said first set of conductors for connection with said internal battery and said second set of conductors for connection to said TET.