Implantable artificial ventricular assist device

• US 20050261543A1
• Filed: 05/18/2005
• Published: 11/24/2005
• Est. Priority Date: 05/18/2004
• Status: Abandoned Application

• Current Assignee: Isao Nemoto, Takashi Isoyama, Yusuke Abe
• Original Assignee: Isao Nemoto, Takashi Isoyama, Yusuke Abe
• Inventors: Nemoto, Isao, Isoyama, Takashi, Abe, Yusuke
• Application Number:
  US11/133,063
• Publication Number:
  US 20050261543A1
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• 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 60/178 drawing blood from a ventricle and returning the blood to the arterial system via a cannula external to the ventricle, e.g. left or right ventricular assist devices
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 60/462 Electromagnetic force
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 60/837 Aspects of flexible displacement members, e.g. shapes or materials
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 60/873 specially adapted for wireless or transcutaneous energy transfer [TET], e.g. inductive charging
• CPC Class Codes: F04B 43/1207 the actuating element being a swash plate

Abstract

The present invention provides an implantable, artificial ventricular assist device and system employing an undulation pump and methods for the use thereof. The undulation pump has a toroidal-shaped pump chamber with two angled side walls, an arc-shaped outer wall, an inlet port, an outlet port, and an inner circumferential opening and an undulation disk with a diameter that extends to about the arc-shaped outer wall of the pump chamber. The device includes a circumferential, flexible inner wall membrane covering the inner circumferential opening and least one surface of the undulation disk and forming liquid-tight seals to the pump chamber, or alternatively a precession assembly with inner bearings connected in series with an anti-rotation assembly, the anti-rotation assembly disposed within the pump and connected to the undulation disk, and preferably both, and a motor in connected communication with the precession assembly so that the disk undulates when motive force is applied.

Claims

1. A ventricular assist undulation pump comprising:

a toroidal-shaped pump chamber with two angled side walls, an arc-shaped outer wall, an inlet port, an outlet port, and an inner circumferential opening;

an undulation disk with a diameter that extends to about the arc-shaped outer wall of the pump chamber disposed within the pump chamber; and

a circumferential, flexible inner wall membrane covering the inner circumferential opening and at least one surface of the undulation disk and forming liquid-tight seals to the pump chamber.

2. The pump of claim 1, further comprising:

a precession assembly with inner bearings connected in series with an anti-rotation assembly, the anti-rotation assembly disposed within the pump and connected to the undulation disk; and

a motor in connected communication with the precession assembly so that the disk undulates when motive force is applied.

3. The pump of claim 1 wherein the undulation disk comprises a top surface and a bottom surface, and wherein the membrane covers both the top surface and the bottom surface.

4. The pump of claim 2 wherein the anti-rotation assembly comprises a universal joint and bushings.

5. The pump of claim 1 wherein the membrane comprises a material selected from the group consisting of polyurethane and polyethylene.

6. The pump of claim 1 wherein the membrane comprises a thermoplastic elastomer.

7. The pump of claim 1, further comprising an anti-thrombogenic coating disposed on the blood-contacting surfaces of the toroidal-shaped pump chamber, the undulation disk, and the interior surfaces of the membrane.

8. The pump of claim 7 wherein the anti-thrombogenic coating comprises segmented polyurethane.

9. The pump of claim 7 wherein the anti-thrombogenic coating comprises 2-methacryloyloxyethyl phosphorylcholine polymer.

10. The pump of claim 2 wherein the motor comprises a rotor that is integral to the precession assembly, the rotor disposed on a flat stator.

11. The pump of claim 10 wherein the rotor comprises a soft iron core and a plurality of magnets.

12. The pump of claim 2, further comprising at least one balancing weight disposed in the precession assembly.

13. The pump of claim 8, further comprising at least one heat sink disposed in the pump.

14. The pump of claim 13 wherein the at least one heat sink comprises a metal selected from the group consisting of aluminum, aluminum alloys, and duralumin.

15. The pump of claim 1 wherein the disk comprises a rigid material.

16. The pump of claim 15 wherein the disk comprises a metal selected from the group consisting of titanium, titanium alloys, stainless steel, aluminum and aluminum alloys.

17. A ventricular assist undulation pump comprising:

a toroidal-shaped pump chamber with two angled side walls, an arc-shaped outer wall, an inlet port, an outlet port, and an open circumferential inner wall;

an undulation disk with a diameter that extends to about the arc-shaped outer wall of the pump chamber disposed within the pump chamber;

a circumferential, flexible inner wall membrane covering the inner circumferential opening and forming liquid-tight seals to the undulation disk and the pump chamber;

a precession assembly with inner bearings connected in series with an anti-rotation assembly, the anti-rotation assembly disposed within the pump and connected to the undulation disk; and

a motor in connected communication with the precession assembly so that the disk undulates when motive force is applied.

18. The pump of claim 17 wherein the undulation disk comprises a top surface and a bottom surface, and wherein the membrane covers both the top surface and the bottom surface.

19. The pump of claim 17 wherein the anti-rotation assembly comprises a universal joint and bushings.

20. The pump of claim 17 wherein the membrane comprises a material selected from the group consisting of polyurethane and polyethylene.

21. The pump of claim 17 wherein the membrane comprises a thermoplastic elastomer.

22. The pump of claim 17, further comprising an anti-thrombogenic coating disposed on the interior surfaces of the toroidal-shaped pump chamber, the undulation disk, and the interior surfaces of the membrane.

23. The pump of claim 22 wherein the anti-thrombogenic coating comprises segmented polyurethane.

24. The pump of claim 22 wherein the anti-thrombogenic coating comprises 2-methacryloyloxyethyl phosphorylcholine polymer.

25. The pump of claim 17 wherein the motor comprises a rotor that is integral to the precession assembly, the rotor disposed on a flat stator.

26. The pump of claim 25 wherein the rotor comprises a soft iron core and a plurality of magnets.

27. The pump of claim 17, further comprising at least one balancing weight disposed in the precession assembly.

28. The pump of claim 25, further comprising at least one heat sink disposed in the pump.

29. The pump of claim 28 wherein the at least one heat sink comprises a metal selected from the group consisting of aluminum, aluminum alloys, and duralumin.

30. The pump of claim 17 wherein the disk comprises a rigid material.

31. The pump of claim 30 wherein the disk comprises a metal selected from the group consisting of titanium, titanium alloys, stainless steel, aluminum and aluminum alloys.

32. A ventricular assist device comprising:

a surgically implantable undulation pump with an inlet port and an outlet port; and

an implantable control unit comprising a motor drive circuit, and internal battery, a battery charge control system and an information transfer system.

33. The device of claim 32, further comprising an extracorporeal system comprising a battery and a monitoring system.

34. The device of claim 32, wherein the undulation pump comprises:

a toroidal-shaped pump chamber with two angled side walls, an arc-shaped outer wall, an inlet port, an outlet port, and an inner circumferential opening;

an undulation disk with a diameter that extends to about the arc-shaped outer wall of the pump chamber disposed within the pump chamber; and

a circumferential, flexible inner wall membrane covering the inner circumferential opening and at least one surface of the undulation disk and forming liquid-tight seals to the pump chamber.

35. The device of claim 34, wherein the undulation pump further comprises:

a precession assembly with inner bearings connected in series with an anti-rotation assembly, the anti-rotation assembly disposed within the pump and connected to the undulation disk; and

a motor in connected communication with the precession assembly so that the disk undulates when motive force is applied.

36. A method for assisting the ventricular circulation of blood in a patient, comprising:

providing a surgically implantable undulation pump with an inlet port and an outlet port; and

implanting the undulation pump in the patient, with a ventricle of the patient'"'"'s heart in fluidic contact with the inlet port of the undulation pump and an artery of the patient in fluidic contact with the outlet port.

37. The method of claim 36, further comprising providing a source of electrical power to the undulation pump, whereby the undulation pump causes blood to flow.

38. The method of claim 36, further comprising providing an implantable control unit comprising a motor drive circuit, and internal battery, a battery charge control system and an information transfer system.

39. The method of claim 38, further comprising providing an extracorporeal system comprising a battery and a monitoring system.

40. The method of claim 36, wherein the undulation pump comprises:

a toroidal-shaped pump chamber with two angled side walls, an arc-shaped outer wall, an inlet port, an outlet port, and an inner circumferential opening;

an undulation disk with a diameter that extends to about the arc-shaped outer wall of the pump chamber disposed within the pump chamber; and

a circumferential, flexible inner wall membrane covering the inner circumferential opening and at least one surface of the undulation disk and forming liquid-tight seals to the pump chamber.

41. The method of claim 40, wherein the undulation pump further comprises:

a precession assembly with inner bearings connected in series with an anti-rotation assembly, the anti-rotation assembly disposed within the pump and connected to the undulation disk; and

a motor in connected communication with the precession assembly so that the disk undulates when motive force is applied.