Catheter pump

• US 8,591,393 B2
• Filed: 01/05/2012
• Issued: 11/26/2013
• Est. Priority Date: 01/06/2011
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: TC1 LLC (Abbott Laboratories)
• Original Assignee: Thoratec LLC
• Inventors: Walters, Daniel A., Repka, William James, Prais, Brian A., Williams, Jonathan R.
• Primary Examiner(s): MANUEL, GEORGE C
• Application Number:
  US13/344,544
• Publication Number:
  US 20120178985A1
• Time in Patent Office: 691 Days
• Field of Search: 600/16
• US Class Current: 600/16
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 25/04 in the body, e.g. expansible A61M25/10, A61M16/0488 take precedence
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 60/13 by means of a catheter allowing explantation, e.g. catheter pumps temporarily introduced via the vascular system
• 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 60/237 the blood flow through the rotating member having mainly axial components, e.g. axial flow pumps
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 60/414 transmitted by a rotating cable, e.g. for blood pumps mounted on a catheter
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 60/538 Regulation using real-time blood pump operational parameter data, e.g. motor current
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 60/554 of blood pressure
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 60/808 specially adapted for deformable impellers, e.g. expandable impellers
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 60/824 Hydrodynamic or fluid film bearings
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 60/825 Contact bearings, e.g. ball-and-cup or pivot bearings
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 60/829 having a purge fluid supply
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 60/865 Devices for guiding or inserting pumps or pumping devices into the patient's body

Abstract

A heart pump is provided that comprises an elongate catheter body, an impeller disposed at the distal end of the elongate catheter body, and one or more bearings positioned between the catheter body and the impeller. A fluid supply line for delivering infusant into the catheter is provided. A fluid return line for transporting infusant out of the catheter is also provided. A pump assembly for regulating the infusant flow along the fluid supply line and fluid return line is provided as part of an infusion system.

Claims

1. A heart pump system comprising:

an elongate catheter body;

an impeller disposed at a distal portion of the elongate catheter body;

one or more bearings positioned between the catheter body and the impeller;

a fluid supply line for delivering infusant into the catheter body;

a fluid return line for transporting infusant out of the catheter body and out of a patient; and

an infusion system comprising a pump for regulating the infusant flow along the fluid supply line and fluid return line.

2. The heart pump system of claim 1, wherein the infusion system pump is configured to regulate the pressure of an inlet of the heart pump to achieve a target flow rate.

3. The heart pump system of claim 2, wherein the infusion system pump is configured to regulate the pressure of an outlet of the heart pump to achieve a target return flow rate, wherein the difference between the target flow rate and target return flow rate is deposited into the patient.

4. The heart pump system of claim 1, further comprising one or more pressure transducers for cooperating with the infusion system pump.

5. The heart pump system of claim 1, further comprising one or more air detectors.

6. The heart pump system of claim 1, wherein the infusion system pump assembly comprises two or more pumps.

7. The heart pump system of claim 6, wherein a first pump is in communication with the fluid supply line and a second pump is in fluid communication with the fluid return line.

8. A heart pump system comprising:

an elongate catheter body;

an impeller disposed at a distal portion of the elongate catheter body;

one or more bearings positioned between the catheter body and the impeller;

an infusant delivery flow path for delivering infusant into the catheter body;

an infusant return flow path for transporting infusant out of the catheter body and out of a patient; and

a pump priming structure.

9. The heart pump system of claim 8, further comprising a shunt and a valve for regulating flow through the shunt, wherein the shunt is connected between the infusant delivery flow path and the infusant return flow path.

10. The heart pump system of claim 9, wherein the shunt is configured such that when it is open, air can be diverted from the infusant delivery flow path into the infusant return flow path.

11. A heart pump comprising:

a catheter assembly comprising a proximal end, a distal end, and an elongate body extending therebetween;

an impeller disposed distal to the catheter assembly;

an infusant flow channel disposed within the catheter assembly for directing infusant through the catheter assembly; and

at least one recess positioned along the infusant flow channel, wherein the recess is configured to capture debris generated in the catheter assembly.

12. The heart pump of claim 11, wherein the recess is positioned adjacent a bearing.

13. The heart pump of claim 11, wherein the recess comprises a recess or plenum.

14. The heart pump of claim 11, wherein the edge of the recess comprises a portion of a square or rectangular structure.

15. The heart pump of claim 11, wherein the recess comprises a baffle that partitions the recess.

16. The heart pump of claim 11, comprising a first recess and a second recess, wherein the first recess and the second recess are of different sizes.

17. The heart pump of claim 16, wherein the first recess is located in a different position along the length of the catheter assembly from the second recess.

18. The heart pump of claim 16, where the first recess is located distal of an infusant introduction port and the second recess is located proximal of the infusant introduction port.

19. The heart pump of claim 11, wherein the infusant flow channel has an upstream and a downstream direction in use and wherein the recess is located in the upstream direction from and immediately adjacent to a load bearing interface.

20. A heart pump comprising:

an elongate catheter body;

an impeller disposed at a distal portion of the elongate catheter body;

one or more bearings positioned between the catheter body and the impeller, at least one of the bearings comprising a surface facing a portion of the impeller;

an inflow channel disposed within the elongate catheter body for directing infusant to the surface of the bearing(s) facing the impeller, wherein a first portion of infusant is directed in a proximal direction from a distal inflow port disposed adjacent to the bearing(s) and a second portion of infusant is directed in a distal direction from the distal inflow port;

an outflow channel for directing infusant away from the surface of the bearing(s); and

at least one recess configured to capture debris and positioned along the outflow channel downstream of the one or more bearings.

21. The heart pump of claim 20, wherein the recess is configured to separate debris from infusant upstream of a hydrodynamic bearing.

22. The heart pump of claim 20, wherein the recess is configured to separate debris from infusant upstream of a fluid boundary induced by an interface between a moving component and a static component of the heart pump.

23. The heart pump of claim 22, wherein the moving component comprises an elongate drive shaft and the static component comprises an inner wall of the elongate catheter body, the inner wall surrounding an inner lumen in which the drive cable rotates.