Reciprocating pump with imperforate piston

• US 5,758,666 A
• Filed: 06/07/1995
• Issued: 06/02/1998
• Est. Priority Date: 08/06/1992
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Electric Boat Corporation (General Dynamics Corporation)
• Original Assignee: Electric Boat Corporation (General Dynamics Corporation)
• Inventors: Trahan, John D., Smith, James S., Pasque, Michael K., Franco, Alberto, Chapman, John H., Rosen, Marvin E., Brozek, Robert J., Slimon, Scot A., McGarvey, John J., Larson, Carl O. Jr.
• Primary Examiner(s): Kamm, William E.
• Application Number:
  US08/480,823
• Time in Patent Office: 1,091 Days
• Field of Search: 417/410.1, 417/415, 417/416, 417/417, 417/418, 128/899
• US Class Current: 128/899
• 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 60/196 replacing the entire heart, e.g. total artificial hearts [TAH]
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 60/232 Centrifugal pumps
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 60/237 the blood flow through the rotating member having mainly axial components, e.g. axial flow pumps
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 60/258 Piston pumps
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 60/441 generated by an electromotor
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 60/462 Electromagnetic force
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 60/554 of blood pressure
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 60/562 for making blood flow pulsatile in blood pumps that do not intrinsically create pulsatile flow
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 60/876 Implantable batteries
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 60/894 Passive valves, i.e. valves actuated by the blood
• CPC Class Codes: F16C 19/525 related to temperature and heat, e.g. insulation
• CPC Class Codes: H02K 41/031 of the permanent magnet type
• CPC Class Codes: H02K 7/14 Structural association with mechanical loads, e.g. with hand-held machine tools or fans with fan or impeller for cooling the machine H02K9/06

Abstract

In one embodiment described in the specification, a surgically implantable reciprocating pump employs a check valve as the piston, which is driven by a permanent magnet linear electric motor to assist either side of the natural heart. The pump is implanted in the aorta or pulmonary artery using vascular attachment cuffs such as flexible cuffs for suturing at each end with the pump output directly in line with the artery. The pump is powered by surgically implanted rechargeable batteries. In another embodiment, pairs of pumps are provided to replace or assist the natural heart or to provide temporary blood flow throughout the body, for example, during operations to correct problems with the natural heart.

Claims

1. A reciprocating pump comprising a hollow cylinder, an array of axially spaced coil windings supported by the cylinder, an imperforate piston having opposite sides slidably positioned within the cylinder for reciprocal longitudinal movement therein in response to sequential energization of the coil windings, a magnet arrangement having axially spaced magnet poles directed radially outwardly toward the outer surface of the piston mounted on the piston for movement therewith, two conduits at each end of the hollow cylinder, each conduit being connected to the hollow cylinder and containing a check valve, and control means for sequentially energizing the coil windings adjacent to the poles such that current flows through coil windings adjacent to opposite poles in opposite directions so as to exert an axial force on the piston causing the piston to move longitudinally in the hollow cylinder in a controlled manner in synchrony with the sequential energization of the electrical windings and wherein the sequential energization is arranged to cause the piston to be drawn toward the energized windings when the piston is approached by the pattern of sequentially energized windings from either direction.

2. A reciprocating pump in accordance with claim 1 including magnetically soft material disposed between the coil windings of the array.

3. A reciprocating pump in accordance with claim 2 wherein the magnetically soft material disposed between the windings of the array is in laminate form.

4. A reciprocating pump in accordance with claim 1 wherein the opposite sides of the piston have concave surfaces.

5. A reciprocating pump in accordance with claim 1 further comprising a retaining ring and wherein each conduit has a large end, the large end of the conduit being connected to the hollow cylinder by the retaining ring.