Power system for an implantable heart pump

• US 6,149,683 A
• Filed: 10/05/1998
• Issued: 11/21/2000
• Est. Priority Date: 10/05/1998
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Thoratec LLC
• Original Assignee: Kriton Medical, Inc.
• Inventors: Lancisi, David M., Wampler, Richard K., Gauthier, Raymond G.
• Primary Examiner(s): SNOW, BRUCE EDWARD
• Application Number:
  US09/166,539
• Time in Patent Office: 778 Days
• Field of Search: 623/3, 600/16-17, 417/423.7, 417/423.14, 417/16, 417/411, 607/34, 607/33, 607/61
• US Class Current: 623/3.1
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 2205/18 with alarm
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 2205/3523 using telemetric means
• 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 60/232 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 60/422 the force acting on the blood contacting member being electromagnetic, e.g. using canned motor pumps
• 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 60/822 specially adapted for being actively controlled
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 60/824 Hydrodynamic or fluid film bearings
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 60/873 specially adapted for wireless or transcutaneous energy transfer [TET], e.g. inductive charging
• CPC Class Codes: F04D 13/0666 the motor being of the plane gap type
• CPC Class Codes: F05B 2240/51 magnetic
• CPC Class Codes: F05B 2240/53 Hydrodynamic or hydrostatic bearings

Abstract

A power system for an implantable heart pump is provided. The system includes two batteries, a microprocessor controller, two motor drivers, a multiplexer, two stators and a TET coil. During normal operation, only one battery and one motor driver are in use at a time to drive both stators.

Claims

1. An implantable blood pump which comprises:

a pump housing;

a rotor mounted for rotation within said housing, said rotor having an impeller;

first and second stators for aiding in rotation of said impeller;

two stator drivers for driving said stators;

a microprocessor;

a multiplexer for coupling said drivers to said stators in a desired manner, said multiplexer being adapted for coupling either of said drivers to both stators;

first and second batteries;

said batteries, microprocessor and drivers being interconnected and programmed so that during normal operation only one of said batteries is in use at a time for powering both stators simultaneously.

2. An implantable blood pump as defined in claim 1, further comprising an external transcutaneous energy transmission coil and external power source.

3. An implantable blood pump as defined in claim 2, in which said transcutaneous energy transmission coil and external power source are adapted for powering the stators in the event of battery depletion or degradation.

4. An implantable blood pump as defined in claim 3, including an alarm for indicating that a battery problem exists.

5. An implantable blood pump as defined in claim 1, including an external monitor that is RF coupled to said power and control system for untethered user monitoring.

6. An implantable blood pump as defined in claim 5, in which said external monitor comprises a device for mounting on a patient'"'"'s wrist.