Resonant multilayered impedance pump

• US 8,092,365 B2
• Filed: 01/08/2007
• Issued: 01/10/2012
• Est. Priority Date: 01/06/2006
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: California Institute of Technology
• Original Assignee: California Institute of Technology
• Inventors: Rinderknecht, Derek, Gharib, Morteza, Hickerson, Anna, Loumes, Laurence, Forouhar, Arian Soroush
• Primary Examiner(s): Getzow, Scott
• Assistant Examiner(s): DIETRICH, JOSEPH M
• Application Number:
  US11/621,065
• Publication Number:
  US 20070177997A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,828 Days
• Field of Search: 417/394, 417/412, 623/3.1, 623/3.11, 623/3.16, 623/3.17, 623/3.21, 600/16, 600/18
• US Class Current: 600/18
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 2205/0283 Electro-active polymers [EAP]
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 60/139 inside the aorta, e.g. intra-aortic balloon pumps
• 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 60/427 the force acting on the blood contacting member being hydraulic or pneumatic
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 60/454 generated by electro-active actuators, e.g. using electro-active polymers or piezoelectric elements
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 60/462 Electromagnetic force
• CPC Class Codes: F04B 43/08 having tubular flexible members F04B43/12 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: F04B 43/10 Pumps having fluid drive
• CPC Class Codes: F04F 7/00 Pumps displacing fluids by using inertia thereof, e.g. by generating vibrations therein

Abstract

A multilayered impedance pump is formed by an inner tube and an outer tube which have different mechanical characteristics. The outer tube is relatively stiff, and can be used for a structural material. The inner tube is excitable, and a gel is placed between the inner and outer tube. The actuator actuates the gel to cause pressure waves along the inner tube.

Claims

1. A pumping device, comprising:

an outer wall formed of a substantially unbending material defining an inner surface that defines an outer boundary of a first lumen inside the outer wall and an outer surface outside the outer wall, said outer wall configured to be implanted in and reside within a body cavity;

an inner wall, disposed entirely within said first lumen, said inner wall having an outer surface that defines an inner boundary of said first lumen and an inner surface that defines an outer boundary of a second lumen, said inner wall formed of a material that is elastically deformable;

a fluid material, filling said first lumen between said inner wall and said outer wall, said fluid material having a mechanical property that makes said fluid material adapted to transmit applied force waves; and

an actuator, that actuates said fluid material to create motion in the fluid material at a frequency that causes constructive wave interaction within the fluid material and adapted to drive a fluid flow through said second lumen; and

a controller, that controls the actuator to produce a lower amplitude actuation of said fluid material at said frequency, where said actuation at said frequency produces a higher amplitude actuating of said first lumen, where said higher amplitude of the actuation of the first lumen is greater than said lower amplitude of actuation of said material, wherein said controller controls the lower amplitude actuation to said frequency that constructively interferes, to create the higher amplitude actuation, and wherein said frequency of said lower amplitude actuation is a resonant frequency that causes a resonant effect in the fluid material, to create said higher amplitude actuation.

2. A device as in claim 1, further comprising another lumen section, connected to said second lumen, where said another lumen section has a different fluidic characteristic than said second lumen.

3. A device as in claim 1, wherein said actuator creates an excitation force in the material sonically.

4. A device as in claim 3, wherein said actuator controls the lower amplitude waves to a frequency that constructively interferes, to create the higher amplitude wave.

5. A device as in claim 4, wherein said actuator forms a surface wave on said outer wall.

6. A device as in claim 3, wherein said actuator forms a surface wave on said outer wall.

7. A device as in claim 1, wherein said actuator is located between said inner wall and said outer wall.

8. A device as in claim 7, wherein said actuator is located within the fluid material.

9. A device as in claim 1, wherein at least one of said inner wall and said outer wall has a closed end.

10. A device as in claim 1, wherein at least one of said inner wall and said outer wall have open ends.

11. A device as in claim 1, wherein said fluid material is a hydrogel.

12. A device as in claim 1, wherein said fluid material has the viscosity of a gel having a viscocity higher than 1.5 centi-Poise.

13. A device as in claim 1, wherein said inner and outer walls are each substantially cylindrical.