Methods, devices and systems for counterpulsation of blood flow to and from the circulatory system

• US 7,766,813 B2
• Filed: 08/20/2007
• Issued: 08/03/2010
• Est. Priority Date: 10/31/2003
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Paul A. Spence
• Original Assignee: Paul A. Spence
• Inventors: Spence, Paul A.
• Primary Examiner(s): Layno; Carl H
• Assistant Examiner(s): Porter, Jr.; Gary A
• Application Number:
  US11/841,244
• Publication Number:
  US 20070282158A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,079 Days
• Field of Search: 600/16, 600/17, 607/16, 607/17
• 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 60/152 branching on and drawing blood from a blood vessel
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 60/274 the inlet and outlet being the same, e.g. para-aortic counter-pulsation blood pumps
• 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 60/462 Electromagnetic force
• 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 60/869 Compliance chambers containing a gas or liquid other than blood to compensate volume variations of a blood chamber
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 60/873 specially adapted for wireless or transcutaneous energy transfer [TET], e.g. inductive charging

Abstract

Counterpulsation methods and systems for assisting the heart of a patient involve, for example, coordinating the operation of a pulsatile pump to suction blood from an artery through a first conduit while the heart is in systole and expel the blood into the first conduit and the artery while the heart is in diastole.

Claims

1. A counterpulsation method of assisting the heart of a patient using a pump assist system, the method comprising:

coupling a first conduit to the arterial system of the patient without entering the chest cavity or abdominal cavity of the patient,

connecting a first port of a pulsatile pump to the first conduit,

implanting the pump in the patient without entering the chest cavity or abdominal cavity of the patient,

connecting a power supply to the pump,

coordinating the operation of the pulsatile pump to suction blood from the arterial system through the first port and the first conduit while the heart is in systole and expel the blood into the first port and the first conduit and the arterial system while the heart is in diastole.

2. The method of claim 1, further comprising implanting the pump in a superficial, subcutaneous area of the patient.

3. The method of claim 1, further comprising:

coupling a second conduit to the arterial system of the patient,

connecting a second port of the pulsatile pump to the second conduit, and

coordinating the operation of the pulsatile pump to suction blood from the arterial system through the first and second ports and the first and second conduits while the heart is in systole and expel the blood into the first and second ports and the first and second conduits and the arterial system while the heart is in diastole.

4. A counterpulsation method of assisting the heart of a patient using a pump assist system, the method comprising:

coupling a first conduit to the arterial system of the patient,

connecting a first port of a pulsatile pump to the first conduit,

implanting the pump in the patient without entering the chest cavity or abdominal cavity of the patient,

connecting a power supply to the pump,

coordinating the operation of the pulsatile pump to suction blood from the arterial system through the first port and the first conduit while the heart is in systole and expel the blood into the first port and the first conduit and the arterial system while the heart is in diastole.

5. The method of claim 4, further comprising implanting the pump in a superficial, subcutaneous area of the patient.

6. The method of claim 4, wherein the first conduit is connected to the aorta of the patient and the pump is implanted in a superficial, subcutaneous area in the chest region of the patient.

7. The method of claim 4, further comprising:

coupling a second conduit to the arterial system of the patient,

connecting a second port of the pulsatile pump to the second conduit, and

coordinating the operation of the pulsatile pump to suction blood from the arterial system through the first and second ports and the first and second conduits while the heart is in systole and expel the blood into the first and second ports and the first and second conduits and the arterial system while the heart is in diastole.