Wireless compressible heart pump

• US 8,690,749 B1
• Filed: 11/02/2010
• Issued: 04/08/2014
• Est. Priority Date: 11/02/2009
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Anthony Nunez
• Original Assignee: Anthony Nunez
• Inventors: Nunez, Anthony
• Primary Examiner(s): Koharski, Christopher D
• Assistant Examiner(s): Dinga, Roland
• Application Number:
  US12/938,371
• Time in Patent Office: 1,253 Days
• Field of Search: 600 16- 18, 623 31- 33
• US Class Current: 600/16
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 2/2418 Scaffolds therefor, e.g. support stents
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 2250/0001 Means for transferring electromagnetic energy to implants
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 2250/0063 Nested prosthetic parts
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 2205/8243 by induction
• 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 60/216 including a rotating member acting on the blood, e.g. impeller
• 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 60/876 Implantable batteries

Abstract

An apparatus with a compressible construction having a wireless power source structured around a cylindrical-shaped support that suspends a motor within the vascular system while also supporting an impeller pump that can be made to be collapsible. The whole system allows for a minimally invasive pump implantation and augmentation of flow.

Claims

1. A cardiac augmentation pump having a compressible construction which allows for a minimally invasive pump implantation and augmentation of cardiac flow, comprising:

a cylindrical-shaped support that is operatively capable of suspending a motor within the vascular system while also supporting an impeller pump that can be made to be collapsible;

a main stent body which is operatively capable of expanding during said minimally invasive pump implantation;

an impeller pump support coupled to said main stent body through a plurality of struts and vanes;

an expandable woven medical textile fabric supporting an expandable wire network defining electromagnetic elements placed onto said main stent body and operably capable of expanding with said main stent body using said minimally invasive pump implantation into a pre-arranged configuration;

a fluid impeller having impeller blades;

a central rotating element supported by said impeller pump support on which the impeller blades are movably coupled; and

electromagnetic elements coupled with said central rotating element and capable of operably interacting with said expandable wire network when expanded into said pre-arranged configuration to thereby define a motor; and

wherein said cylindrical-shaped support further comprises a superstructure with said motor integrated therein and which is self-expanding and will restore to a predictable configuration while allowing for full expansion of said impeller suspended within.

2. The cardiac augmentation pump of claim 1, wherein said cylindrical-shaped support further comprises cylindrical-shaped support elements attached and movably coupled to a central stent by struts that are fashioned by laser cutting one single tube of material, said material having the property of being compressible and expandable restoring to the original dimensions with sufficient radial and axial force to withstand the surrounding compressive forces of the cardiac environment.

3. The cardiac augmentation pump of claim 1, wherein said struts orient on expansion of said pump to assist in directing the flow of fluid or blood, at the proximal portion of said pump directing fluid by said vanes to straighten flow, and at the distal portion of said pump exiting fluid is directed by said vanes to diffuse accelerated rotating fluid, said vane elements each having different orientation based on a position within said stent structure.

4. The cardiac augmentation pump of claim 1, wherein said strut and vane elements are compressed to allow for delivery by minimally invasive means.

5. The cardiac augmentation pump of claim 1, wherein said main stent body further comprises portions being of a rigid, predictable diameter which allows for a closer gap distance between elements of said motor, thus improving motor efficiency.

6. The cardiac augmentation pump of claim 1, wherein said electromagnetic elements coupled with said central rotating element further comprise magnetic material coupled with said impeller blades and adapted to be operatively aligned with a magnetic field created by said expandable wire network during operation.

7. In combination, a wireless power source and a cardiac augmentation pump having a compressible construction and structured around a cylindrical-shaped support that suspends a motor within the vascular system while also supporting an impeller pump that can be made to be collapsible, the pump which allows for a minimally invasive pump implantation and augmentation of cardiac flow, said wireless power source comprising:

a source of electrical energy;

a first wireless energy coil adapted for operative placement external to an aorta and powered by said source of electrical energy; and

a second wireless energy coil adapted for operative placement within an aorta and directly electrically coupled to said cardiac augmentation pump and capable of receiving electrical energy from said first wireless energy coil to thereby power said cardiac augmentation pump.

8. A trans-valve cardiac augmentation pump that allows for preservation of the aortic valve, comprising:

a collapsible stent main body having a network of wires that are adapted to operatively traverse the aortic valve;

a collapsible impeller pump supported within said collapsible stent main body;

a motor supported by said collapsible stent main body operative to drive said collapsible impeller pump;

a proximal subannular expansion of said wire network define an annular shroud that surrounds said collapsible impeller pump;

a distal expansion of said wire network adapted to operatively expand to a generally cylindrical geometry and conform to an ascending aorta;

wherein said network of wires is adapted to operatively pass through an aortic valve orifice and allow for closure and maintenance of function of a native aortic valve.