Ventricular assist devices of enhanced hemocompatibility
First Claim
1. In a ventricular assist device for implantation in living body tissue of a patient of the type comprising:
- (a) a pump to increase the pumping pressure of a left ventricle of a patient'"'"'s heart; and
(b) a solenoid energy converter to provide energy to the pump;
said pump and solenoid energy converter having surfaces that are exposed to body tissue and body fluid when the ventricular assist device is in use,the improvement wherein at least a portion of the ventricular assist device isfabricated from a metal alloy with enhanced hemocompatibility, said alloy comprising;
(i) titanium; and
(ii) from about 10 to about 20 wt. % niobium or from about 35 to about 50 wt % niobium;
wherein the alloy is free of deliberately added toxic elements.
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Accused Products
Abstract
Ventricular assist devices fabricated from low-modulus Ti--Nb--Zr alloys to provide enhanced biocompatibility and hemocompatibility. The ventricular assist devices may be surface hardened by oxygen or nitrogen diffusion or by coating with a tightly adherent, hard, wear-resistant, hemocompatible ceramic coating. It is contemplated that the Ti--Nb--Zr alloy can be substituted as a fabrication material for any portion of a ventricular assist device that either comes into contact with blood thereby demanding high levels of hemocompatibility, or that is subject to microfretting, corrosion, or other wear and so that a low modulus metal with a corrosion-resistant, hardened surface would be desirable.
37 Citations
18 Claims
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1. In a ventricular assist device for implantation in living body tissue of a patient of the type comprising:
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(a) a pump to increase the pumping pressure of a left ventricle of a patient'"'"'s heart; and (b) a solenoid energy converter to provide energy to the pump; said pump and solenoid energy converter having surfaces that are exposed to body tissue and body fluid when the ventricular assist device is in use, the improvement wherein at least a portion of the ventricular assist device is fabricated from a metal alloy with enhanced hemocompatibility, said alloy comprising; (i) titanium; and (ii) from about 10 to about 20 wt. % niobium or from about 35 to about 50 wt % niobium; wherein the alloy is free of deliberately added toxic elements. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10)
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11. In a ventricular assist device for implantation in living body tissue of a patient of the type comprising:
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(a) a pump to increase the pumping pressure of a left ventricle of a patient'"'"'s heart; and (b) a solenoid energy converter to provide energy to the pump, said pump and solenoid energy converter having surfaces that are exposed to body tissue and body fluid when the ventricular assist device is in use, the improvement wherein at least a portion of the ventricular assist device is; fabricated from a metal alloy with enhanced hemocompatibility, said alloy comprising; (i) titanium; and (ii) niobium and gantalum, wherein the combined wt. % of niobium and tantalum is from about 10 to about 20 wt. % or from about 35 to about 50 wt. %; wherein the alloy is free of deliberately added toxic elements. - View Dependent Claims (12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18)
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Specification