Extracardiac Blood Flow Amplification Device

• US 20080234537A1
• Filed: 02/10/2005
• Published: 09/25/2008
• Est. Priority Date: 02/10/2004
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Rainbow Medical Ltd.
• Original Assignee: Yossi Gross
• Inventors: Gross, Yossi
• Granted Patent: US 7,811,221 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 600/16
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 2/02 Prostheses implantable into the body closure means for urethra or rectum or for artificial body openings therefor A61F2/0004
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 2002/068 Modifying the blood flow model, e.g. by diffuser or deflector
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 60/135 inside a blood vessel, e.g. using grafting
• 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 60/268 the displacement member being flexible, e.g. membranes, diaphragms or bladders
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 60/34 for enhancement of circulation to the extremities, e.g. the feet
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 60/435 with diastole or systole switching by valve means located between the blood pump and the hydraulic or pneumatic energy source
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 60/894 Passive valves, i.e. valves actuated by the blood

Abstract

Apparatus (10) is provided including a first chamber (20) and a second chamber (22), adapted to be in fluid communication with a first volume and a second volume of oxygenated blood of a subject, respectively, the first chamber (20) and the second chamber (22) having a first surface (34) and a second surface (36), respectively. The apparatus (10) further includes a third surface (38) adapted to apply an elastically-derived force, at least a first portion of the third surface (38) in mechanical communication with the first surface (34), and at least a second portion of the third surface (38) in mechanical communication with the second surface (36) during at least a portion of a cardiac cycle. A pressure-sensitive valve (46) is coupled between the first chamber (20) and the second chamber (22), the valve (46) adapted: (a) to be in an open position during at least a portion of systole, such that the first chamber (20) is in fluid communication with the second chamber (22) and the first volume is in fluid communication with the second volume; and (b) to be in a substantially closed position during diastole, such that the first chamber (20) is substantially not in fluid communication with the second chamber (22) and the first volume is substantially not in fluid communication with the second volume. Other embodiments are also described.

Claims

1. Apparatus comprising:

a first chamber and a second chamber, adapted to be in fluid communication with a first volume and a second volume of oxygenated blood of a subject, respectively, the first chamber and the second chamber having a first surface and a second surface, respectively;

a third surface adapted to apply an elastically-derived force, at least a first portion of the third surface in mechanical communication with the first surface, and at least a second portion of the third surface in mechanical communication with the second surface during at least a portion of a cardiac cycle; and

a pressure-sensitive valve coupled between the first chamber and the second chamber, the valve adapted to;

be in an open position during at least a portion of systole, such that the first chamber is in fluid communication with the second chamber and the first volume is in fluid communication with the second volume, and

be in a substantially closed position during diastole, such that the first chamber is substantially not in fluid communication with the second chamber and the first volume is substantially not in fluid communication with the second volume.

2. The apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the apparatus is adapted to expel, during diastole, oxygenated blood having a blood pressure greater than systolic blood pressure in a vicinity of the apparatus.

3. The apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the first chamber comprises:

a first sub-chamber, adapted to be in fluid communication with the first volume, and coupled to the valve; and

a second sub-chamber, having the first surface, wherein the first sub-chamber and the second sub-chamber are shaped so as to define an opening therebetween.

4. The apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the second chamber comprises:

a first sub-chamber, adapted to be in fluid communication with the second volume, and coupled to the valve; and

a second sub-chamber, having the second surface, wherein the first sub-chamber and the second sub-chamber are shaped so as to define an opening therebetween.

5. The apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the first surface and the second surface are adapted to apply respective forces to the third surface during systole, causing the third surface to store the forces as potential energy, and wherein the third surface is adapted to apply, during diastole, more of the stored potential energy to the second surface than to the first surface.

6. The apparatus according to claim 1, comprising at least one spring, configured to provide the elastically-derived force.

7. The apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the third surface comprises an elastic material, adapted to provide the elastically-derived force.

8. The apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the first surface comprises the third surface.

9. The apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the first surface and the second surface together comprise the third surface.

10. The apparatus according to claim 1,

wherein the first chamber is shaped so as to define a first opening between the first chamber and the first volume of blood,

wherein the second chamber is shaped to as to define a second opening between the second chamber and the second volume of blood, and

wherein the second opening has a diameter less than a diameter of the first opening.

16. The apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the apparatus is adapted to be coupled to an artery of the subject selected from the list consisting of:

a penile artery of the subject and a dorsal penile artery of the subject.

18. The apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the apparatus is adapted to be coupled to a coronary artery of the subject.

22. The apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the first chamber and the second chamber are substantially radially symmetrical around a common longitudinal axis of the first chamber and the second chamber.

24. The apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the first surface has a first surface area, and wherein the second surface has a second surface area less than the first surface area.

31. The apparatus according to claim 1, comprising a tube, coupled to the second chamber, wherein the first chamber is adapted to be coupled to a first artery of the subject containing the first volume of oxygenated blood, and wherein the tube is adapted to be coupled to a second artery of the subject containing the second volume of oxygenated blood.

11-15. -15. (canceled)

17. (canceled)

19-21. -21. (canceled)

23. (canceled)

25-30. -30. (canceled)

32-72. -72. (canceled)

73. Apparatus comprising a blood flow amplification device, adapted to be placed in fluid communication with a vein and an artery of a subject, and configured to utilize systolic blood pressure of the artery to increase blood flow in the vein.