Device and method for regulating blood flow

• US 7,476,200 B2
• Filed: 02/19/2004
• Issued: 01/13/2009
• Est. Priority Date: 02/19/2003
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Yair Tal
• Original Assignee: Yair Tal
• Inventors: Tal, Yair
• Primary Examiner(s): Nasser; Robert L
• Assistant Examiner(s): Toth; Karen E
• Application Number:
  US10/546,197
• Publication Number:
  US 20060206029A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,790 Days
• Field of Search: 600/16, 600481-507, 604/601
• US Class Current: 600/485
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 17/12022 Occluding by internal devices, e.g. balloons or releasable wires plugging an opening in the wall of an organ A61B17/0057; occluders for the cervical canal A61F6/146; vas deferens occluders A61F6/20
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 17/12036 partial occlusion
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 17/12109 in a blood vessel
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 17/12136 Balloons
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2090/032 pressure limiting, e.g. hydrostatic
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2090/064 for measuring force, pressure or mechanical tension
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/0215 by means inserted into the body catheters A61M25/00
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/026 Measuring blood flow A61B3/1233, A61B3/1241 take precedence
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/1107 Measuring contraction of parts of the body, e.g. organ, muscle apparatus for measuring work or force in general G01L
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 2205/33 Controlling, regulating or measuring
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 2205/3303 Using a biosensor
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 2205/3334 Measuring or controlling the flow rate
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 2205/3523 using telemetric means
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 2205/52 with memories providing a history of measured variating parameters of apparatus or patient
• 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 60/295 Balloon pumps for circulatory assistance
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 60/497 for balloon pumps for circulatory assistance
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 60/531 using blood pressure data, e.g. from blood pressure sensors
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 60/554 of blood pressure
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 60/873 specially adapted for wireless or transcutaneous energy transfer [TET], e.g. inductive charging
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 60/894 : Passive valves, i.e. valves actuated by the blood
• CPC Class Codes: A61N 1/3627 : for treating a mechanical deficiency of the heart, e.g. congestive heart failure or cardiomyopathy
• CPC Class Codes: A61N 1/36564 : controlled by blood pressure
• CPC Class Codes: A61N 1/36571 : controlled by blood flow rate, e.g. blood velocity or cardiac output

Abstract

A system and method for regulating blood flow rate or blood pressure in a second blood vessel or heart chamber to achieve a balanced flow rate or blood pressure between the second blood vessel or heart chamber and a first blood vessel or heart chamber, wherein the first and the second blood vessels and heart chambers are on opposite sides of the circulatory system. The system comprises a monitor that monitors parameters indicative of a difference between the flow rates or blood pressures of the first and the second blood vessels or heart chambers. A regulator regulates the blood flow rate or blood pressure in at least a portion of the second blood vessel or heart chamber. A controller is configured to receive a signal from the monitor and to determine a difference between the flow rate or blood pressure of the first blood vessel or heart chamber and the flow rate or blood pressure of the second blood vessel or heart chamber. The controller determines a second blood flow rate or blood pressure in the second blood vessel or heart chamber that generates the balanced flow rate or blood pressure between the first and the second blood vessels or heart chambers. The controller then signals the regulator to generate the second determined blood flow rate or blood pressure in the at least portion of the lumen of the second blood vessel or heart chamber.

Claims

1. A system for regulating a blood flow rate or blood pressure to achieve balanced flow rates or blood pressures between a first blood vessel or heart chamber and a second blood vessel or heart chamber, wherein the first blood vessel or heart chamber and the second blood vessel and heart chamber are on opposite sides of the circulatory system, and wherein the first blood pressure or heart chamber is regulated by the system only by a regulator applied to the second blood vessel or heart chamber, the system comprising:

i) a monitor monitoring parameters indicative of a difference between the flow rate or blood pressure of the first blood vessel or heart chamber and the flow rate or blood pressure of the second blood vessel or heart chamber;

ii) the regulator regulating the blood flow rate or blood pressure in at least a portion of the second blood vessel or heart chamber; and

iii) a controller configured to;

receive a signal from the monitor;

determine from the signal a difference between the flow rate or blood pressure of the first blood vessel or heart chamber and the flow rate or blood pressure of the second blood vessel or heart chamber;

determine from the difference between the flow rate or blood pressure of the first blood vessel or heart chamber and the flow rate or blood pressure of the second blood vessel or heart chamber a second blood flow rate or blood pressure in the second blood vessel or heart chamber that generates a second blood flow rate or blood pressure in the first blood vessel or heart chamber to yield the balanced flow rate or blood pressure between the first blood vessel or heart chamber and the second blood vessel or heart chamber; and

signal the regulator to generate the second determined blood flow rate or blood pressure in the at least portion of the lumen of the second blood vessel or heart chamber.

2. The system according to claim 1 wherein the monitor monitors parameters indicative a blood flow rate or blood pressure in the first blood vessel or heart chamber.

3. The system according to claim 1 wherein the regulator is configured to decrease the blood flow rate or blood pressure in at least a portion of the second blood vessel or heart chamber below a naturally occurring blood flow rate or blood pressure.

4. The system according to claim 3 for the treatment of congestive heart failure or pulmonary edema or nocturnal dyspnea.

5. The system according to claim 1 wherein at least one of the monitor, the regulator and the controller, is an implanted device.

6. The system according to claim 1 wherein communication between the system components is wired or wireless.

7. The system according to claim 1 further comprising a remote control.

8. The system according to claim 1 wherein the controller is configured to be programmed by remote control.

9. A method for regulating a blood flow rate or blood pressure to achieve balanced flow rates or blood pressures between a first blood vessel or heart chamber and a second blood vessel or heart chamber, wherein the first blood vessel or heart chamber and the second blood vessel and heart chamber are on opposite sides of the circulatory system, and wherein the first blood pressure or heart chamber is regulated by the system only by a regulator applied to the second blood vessel or heart chamber, the method comprising:

i) monitoring parameters indicative of a difference between the flow rate or blood pressure of the first blood vessel or heart chamber and the flow rates or blood pressure of the second blood vessel or heart chamber;

ii) determining a difference between the flow rate or blood pressure of the first blood vessel or heart chamber and the flow rate or blood pressure of the second blood vessel or heart chamber from the signal;

iii) determining from the difference between the flow rate or blood pressure of the first blood vessel or heart chamber and the flow rate or blood pressure of the second blood vessel or heart chamber a second blood flow rate or blood pressure in the second blood vessel or heart chamber that generates a second blood flow rate or blood pressure in the first blood vessel or heart chamber to yield the balanced flow rate or blood pressure between the first blood vessel or heart chamber and the second blood vessel or heart chamber; and

iv) generating the second determined blood flow rate or blood pressure in the at least portion of the lumen of the second blood vessel or heart chamber.

10. The method according to claim 9 comprising monitoring parameters indicative a blood flow rate or blood pressure in the first blood vessel or heart chamber.

11. The method according to claim 9 comprising decreasing the blood flow rate or blood pressure in at least a portion of the second blood vessel or heart chamber below a naturally occurring blood flow rate or blood pressure.

12. The method according to claim 11 for the treatment of congestive heart failure, pulmonary edema, or nocturnal dyspnea.

13. The method according to claim 9 comprising use of at least one implanted device.

14. The method according to claim 9 comprising wired or wireless communication.

15. The method according to claim 9 comprising remote control communication.

16. The method according to claim 15 comprising use of a remote control to program a controller.

17. Apparatus for regulating a blood flow rate or blood pressure to achieve balanced flow rates or blood pressures between a first blood vessel or heart chamber and a second blood vessel or heart chamber, the first blood vessel or heart chamber and the second blood vessel and heart chamber on opposite sides of the circulatory system, comprising:

a processor capable of;

i) monitoring parameters indicative of a difference between the flow rate or blood pressure of the first blood vessel or heart chamber and the flow rates or blood pressure of the second blood vessel or heart chamber;

ii) determining a difference between the flow rate or blood pressure of the first blood vessel or heart chamber and the flow rate or blood pressure of the second blood vessel or heart chamber from the signal;

iii) determining from the difference between the flow rate or blood pressure of the first blood vessel or heart chamber and the flow rate or blood pressure of the second blood vessel or heart chamber a second blood flow rate or blood pressure in the second blood vessel or heart chamber that generates a second blood flow rate or blood pressure in the first blood vessel or heart chamber to yield the balanced flow rate or blood pressure between the first blood vessel or heart chamber and the second blood vessel or heart chamber; and

iv) generating the second determined blood flow rate or blood pressure in the at least portion of the lumen of the second blood vessel or heart chamber below a naturally occurring blood flow rate or blood pressure;

a regulator effecting control of flow rate or blood pressure at the second blood vessel or heart chamber, the method.

18. The apparatus of claim 17, wherein the processor comprises one of a micro-controller, a programmable logic device PLD, and a gate array logic (GAL) device, the processor programmed to activate the regulator at predetermined times and in selected sequences, at predetermined intensities, or at alternating times and intensities.