Abstract A portable mechanical ventricular assistance device including a ventricular assistor cup designed to receive the ventricles of the heart. The cup assembly is comprised of a rigid shell having a configuration generally conforming to the surface configuration of the heart ventricles and a flexible liner which is caused to contract and expand about the heart ventricles to effect the pumping action. The heart ventricles are retained within the cup by a substantially sustained negative pressure while the pumping action is produced by the application of alternating positive and negative pressure pulses to the cup. Both the sustained negative pressure and the positive and negative pressure pulses are generated by a hand pump assembly which includes a manually operable handle connected through a piston rod to a reciprocating piston mounted within the cylinder of the pump. The piston effectively divides the cylinder into two chambers, one of which is coupled through a conduit to provide the sustained negative pressure to the cup. The remaining chamber is coupled through a second conduit to the ventricle assistor cup to provide for the alternating positive and negative pressure pulses. Suitable adjustable relief valves are provided in each of the conduits to regulate the pressure levels and the positive or negative pressure directed to the cup.
A portable mechanical ventricular assistance device comprising: a ventricular assistor cup assembly including a rigid cup having an interior configuration adapted to receive the ventricles of the heart; a flexible liner mounted within said cup having a first opening for receiving the ventricles of the heart; a first port positioned at the apex of the cup opposite the first opening, and a second port positioned intermediate the first opening and the first port; said flexible liner being sealed to the interior surface of said cup along a first marginal portion adjacent to and surrounding said first opening and along a second marginal portion adjacent to and surrounding said first opening and along a second marginal portion adjacent to and surrounding said first ports; A first-sustained negative pressure conduit having a first end coupled to said first port; a second pulsed positive and negative pressure line having a first end coupled to said second port; reciprocating pump means having first and second outputs each capable of developing positive and negative pressure pulses during reciprocation of said pump; said first and second outputs being respectively coupled to the second ends of said first and second conduits; valve means coupled in said firSt conduit for coupling only negative pressure pulses to said first port.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
211 words
A portable mechanical ventricular assistance device comprising: a ventricular assistor cup assembly including a rigid cup having an interior configuration adapted to receive the ventricles of the heart; a flexible liner mounted within said cup having a first opening for receiving the ventricles of the heart; a first port positioned at the apex of the cup opposite the first opening, and a second port positioned intermediate the first opening and the first port; said flexible liner being sealed to the interior surface of said cup along a first marginal portion adjacent to and surrounding said first opening and along a second marginal portion adjacent to and surrounding said first opening and along a second marginal portion adjacent to and surrounding said first ports; A first-sustained negative pressure conduit having a first end coupled to said first port; a second pulsed positive and negative pressure line having a first end coupled to said second port; reciprocating pump means having first and second outputs each capable of developing positive and negative pressure pulses during reciprocation of said pump; said first and second outputs being respectively coupled to the second ends of said first and second conduits; valve means coupled in said firSt conduit for coupling only negative pressure pulses to said first port.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
32 words
The device of claim 1 further comprising first and second relief valve means connected to said second conduit for limiting the maximum positive and negative pressure pulses delivered to said second port.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
50 words
The device of claim 1 further comprising first relief valve means coupled to said first conduit for limiting the negative pressure pulses delivered to said first port to a predetermined threshold level; and second one-way valve means for releasing positive pressure pulses injected into said first conduit to the atmosphere.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
30 words
The device of claim 1 further comprising a liquid trap coupled between said first conduit and said first port for preventing the flow of any liquid toward said pump means.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
41 words
The device of claim 1 wherein said pump means is comprised of a cylinder containing a reciprocally mounted double-acting piston dividing said cylinder into first and second chambers; said first and second outputs communicating respectively with said first and second chambers.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
31 words
The device of claim 1 wherein said pump means is comprised of a cylinder having a collapsible bellows-type wall; said first and second outputs communicating with the interior of said cylinder.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
49 words
The device of claim 1 wherein said pump means is comprised of a cylinder having a collapsible bellows-type wall; a barrier wall in said cylinder dividing said cylinder into first and second chambers; said first and second outputs respectively communicating with the interiors of said first and second chambers.