Electrically-controllable multi-fingered resilient heart compression devices

• US 7,198,594 B2
• Filed: 09/17/2002
• Issued: 04/03/2007
• Est. Priority Date: 03/17/1999
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Environmental Robots Incorporated
• Original Assignee: Environmental Robots Incorporated
• Inventors: Shahinpoor, Mohsen
• Primary Examiner(s): Manuel; George
• Application Number:
  US10/244,857
• Publication Number:
  US 20030032855A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,659 Days
• Field of Search: 600 16- 18
• US Class Current: 600/16
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 60/161 mechanically acting upon the outside of the patient's blood vessel structure, e.g. compressive structures placed around a vessel
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 60/191 mechanically acting upon the outside of the patient's native heart, e.g. compressive structures placed around the heart
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 60/289 Devices for mechanical circulatory actuation assisting the residual heart function by means mechanically acting upon the patient's native heart or blood vessel structure, e.g. direct cardiac compression [DCC] devices
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 60/484 generated by electro-thermomechanical actuators, e.g. shape memory alloy actuators
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 60/531 using blood pressure data, e.g. from blood pressure sensors
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 60/569 synchronous with the native heart beat
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 60/876 Implantable batteries

Abstract

Soft, multi-fingered resilient robotic fingers for selectively assisting heart ventricles or other organ to produce internal pressure and to pump blood, in synchrony with the systolic contraction of the ventricle or organ, as well as providing arrhythmia control of a beating heart. The apparatus is electrically-controlled and implantable. The plurality of soft fingers monitor and gently squeeze the heart (systole) or organ to enhance blood circulation and assist the heart or organ. The soft fingers work in harmony, by means of a micro-processor controlled solenoid or other linear robotic actuators such as metal-hydride actuators or polymeric artificial muscles, and a resilient body or a spring, to close once the solenoid is powered to retract away from the heart or organ when the solenoid is not powered. Monitoring electrodes can be affixed to the soft fingers. The power supply for the implanted device can be transcutaneously rechargeable batteries.

Claims

1. An implantable aorta peristaltic compression apparatus for selectively assisting blood pumping through the aorta, the apparatus comprising:

at least two fingers attached to assembly, wherein said at least two fingers comprise electroactive polymer sensors adapted to contact the aorta and to monitor pressure and electroactive polymer actuators adapted to be affixed to the aorta to provide the peristaltic compression of the aorta; and

a controller for cyclically activating and deactivating said actuators for compressing and releasing compression from the aorta, and for monitoring the pressure sensed by said sensors.

2. The invention of claim 1 wherein said electroactive polymer sensors and actuators comprises electroactive polymeric artificial muscles.

3. The invention of claim 1 wherein said controllers comprises a micro-processors to control the actuators to operate in synchrony and harmony with natural systolic and diastolic motions of the aorta.

4. The invention of claim 1 wherein said implantable aorta peristaltic compression apparatus comprises an endoscopically implantable aorta peristaltic compression apparatus.