PREVENTION OF AORTIC VALVE FUSION

• US 20100222632A1
• Filed: 02/27/2009
• Published: 09/02/2010
• Est. Priority Date: 02/27/2009
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: TC1 LLC (Abbott Laboratories Incorporated)
• Original Assignee: Thoratec LLC
• Inventors: Poirier, Victor
• Granted Patent: US 8,562,507 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 600/16
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 2205/3334 Measuring or controlling the flow rate
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 2205/3344 Measuring or controlling pressure at the body treatment site
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 2205/3351 Controlling upstream pump pressure
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 2205/3355 Controlling downstream pump pressure
• 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 60/216 including a rotating member acting on the blood, e.g. impeller
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 60/411 generated by an electromotor
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 60/523 using blood flow data, e.g. from blood flow transducers
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 60/531 using blood pressure data, e.g. from blood pressure sensors

Abstract

Materials and methods related to blood pump systems are described. These can be used in patients to, for example, monitor arterial pressure, measure blood flow, maintain left ventricular pressure within a particular range, avoid left ventricular collapse, prevent fusion of the aortic valve in a subject having a blood pump, and provide a means to wean a patient from a blood pump.

Claims

1. A blood pump system, comprising:

a blood pump having an inflow conduit for receiving blood from a left ventricle of a heart and an outflow conduit for returning blood to a circulatory system; and

a controller operably connected to said blood pump;

wherein said inflow conduit comprises a first sensor located to detect an inflow conduit pressure that is substantially the same as left ventricular pressure, wherein said sensor is adapted to send a signal regarding said inflow conduit pressure to said controller,

wherein said outflow conduit comprises a second sensor located to detect an outflow conduit pressure that is substantially the same as arterial pressure, wherein said sensor is adapted to send a signal regarding said outflow conduit pressure to said controller,

and wherein said controller is adapted to send a signal to said blood pump such that the speed of said blood pump is periodically and transiently adjusted to increase left ventricular pressure relative to arterial pressure.

2. The blood pump system of claim 1, wherein said blood pump comprises a motor that moves blood through said blood pump.

3. The blood pump system of claim 2, wherein adjusting the speed of said motor adjusts the speed of said blood pump.

4. A method for preventing aortic valve fusion in a subject having a blood pump system that bypasses the subject'"'"'s aortic valve, said blood pump system comprising a blood pump, wherein said method comprises:

detecting left ventricular pressure via a sensor present at an inflow conduit of said blood pump system;

detecting arterial pressure via a sensor present at an outflow conduit of said blood pump system; and

periodically and transiently adjusting the speed of said blood pump such that said left ventricular pressure is increased sufficiently to permit said aortic valve to open.

5. The method of claim 4, wherein said blood pump comprise a motor, and wherein adjusting the speed of said motor adjusts the speed of said blood pump.

6. The method of claim 4, wherein said periodic and transient blood pump speed adjustment is held constant for 5 to 10 beats.

7. The method of claim 4, wherein said periodic and transient blood pump speed adjustment permits washing of the aortic valve sinus.

8. The method of claim 4, further comprising increasing the speed of said blood pump such that left ventricular pressure is reduced to a previous level.