Ventricle assembly for pulsatile-type pump

Claim 2

A pulsatile heart pump assembly, comprising: a chamber, means reciprocal in the chamber, a ventricle assembly at least partly in the chamber including an inlet fitting, an elongated leaflet valve wider than the inlet fitting and having a hydraulic radius substantially equal to the inlet fitting in the normally open position of the valve, a ventricle surrounding at one end said inlet fitting and adapted to be filled with blood, an outlet valve at the other end of the ventricle, and an outlet fitting Communicating with said outlet valve.

Claim 3

A pulsatile heart pump assembly, comprising: a chamber, means reciprocal in the chamber, a ventricle assembly disposed at least partly in said chamber including an inlet fitting, an elongated inlet leaflet valve communicating with said inlet fitting and having a cross section substantially equal to the cross section of the inlet fitting in the normally open position of the valve, a ventricle surrounding said inlet valve and extending in said chamber, an elongated outlet leaflet valve at the other end of the ventricle, an outlet fitting communicating with the outlet valve, and said outlet valve having a cross section approximately equal to that of the outlet fitting, whereby the pressure drop across the inlet and outlet valves is at a minimum.

Claim 4

A pulsatile heart pump assembly, comprising: a chamber, means reciprocal in the chamber, a ventricle assembly disposed at least partly in said chamber including an inlet fitting, an elongated inlet leaflet valve communicating with said inlet fitting and having a cross section substantially equal to the cross section of the inlet fitting in the normally open position of the valve, a ventricle surrounding said inlet valve and extending in said chamber, an elongated outlet leaflet valve at the other end of the ventricle, an outlet fitting communicating with the outlet valve, and said outlet valve having a cross section approximately equal to that of the outlet fitting, whereby the pressure drop across the inlet and outlet valves is at a minimum.

Claim 5

A pulsatile heart pump assembly as claimed in claim 2, wherein said ventricle has no elasticity sufficient to return to the open position to prevent negative pressures in the ventricle assembly.

Claim 6

A pulsatile heart pump assembly as claimed in claim 3, wherein said ventricle is constructed of 5 to 10 ml. polyurethane.

Claim 7

A pulsatile heart pump assembly as claimed in claim 2, wherein said inlet and outlet fittings have a circular portion and laterally diverging and converging portions, respectively, to increase the hydraulic radius of the fitting.

Claim 8

A pulsatile heart pump assembly as claimed in claim 2, wherein said inlet fitting has an elongated valve expander positioned within the inlet leaflet valve.

Claim 9

A pulsatile heart pump assembly as claimed in claim 2, including an elongated valve expander positioned within the outlet valve.

Claim 10

A pulsatile heart pump assembly as claimed in claim 2, wherein the inlet and outlet valves have widths substantially greater than their inlet heights.

Claim 11

A pulsatile heart pump assembly as claimed in claim 2, wherein the inlet valve has a base portion surrounding and clamped to the inlet fitting.

Claim 12

A pulsatile heart pump assembly as claimed in claim 2, wherein the outlet valve projects within the outlet fitting and has a base portion clamped thereto.

Claim 13

A pulsatile heart pump assembly as claimed in claim 2, wherein each of the inlet and outlet valves have engageable flat valve surfaces.

Claim 14

A pulsatile heart pump assembly, comprising: a chamber, a moveable member in said chamber, a ventricle assembly at least partly disposed in said chamber, including an inlet fitting, an elongated inlet valve communicating with said inlet fitting, a flexible ventricle closely and immediately surrounding said inlet valve to reduce stasis, an outlet valve at the other end of the ventricle, and an outlet fitting communicating with said outlet valve.

Claim 15

A pulsatile heart pump assembly, comprising: a chamber, a moveable member in said chamber, a ventricle assembly at least partly disposed in said chamber, including an inlet fitting, an elongated inlet valve communicating with said inlet fitting, a flexible ventricle closely and immediately surrounding said inlet valve to reduce stasis, an outlet valve at the other end of the ventricle, and an outlet fitting communicating with said outlet valve.

Claim 16

A pulsatile heart pump assembly as claimed in claim 12, wherein said ventricle directly engages the inlet valve completely around the valve.

Claim 17

A pulsatile heart pump assembly as claimed in claim 12, wherein said ventricle is sufficiently flexible so that it has no tendency to open under its own elasticity.

Claim 18

A pulsatile heart pump as claimed in claim 12, wherein said outlet valve projects into a transversely elongated portion of the outlet fitting, said outlet fitting engaging and surrounding said outlet valve to minimize stasis.

Claim 19

A pulsatile heart pump assembly as claimed in claim 12, wherein said leaflet valves are molded plastic with the valve openings molded closed and thereafter opened.

Claim 20

In a pulsatile heart pump assembly having a chamber, pressure producing means in communication with the chamber, a ventricle assembly at least partly in the chamber including an inlet fitting and an outlet fitting, wherein the improvement comprises: an inlet valve communicating with said inlet fitting, and a flexible ventricle closely and immediately surrounding said inlet valve to reduce stasis.

Claim 21

In a pulsatile heart pump assembly having a chamber, pressure producing means in communication with the chamber, a ventricle assembly at least partly in the chamber including an inlet fitting and an outlet fitting, wherein the improvement comprises: an inlet valve communicating with said inlet fitting, and a flexible ventricle closely and immediately surrounding said inlet valve to reduce stasis.

Claim 22

A pulsatile heart pump assembly as claimed in claim 17, wherein an outlet valve communicates with said outlet fitting and projects into a portion of said outlet fitting, said outLet fitting engaging and surrounding said outlet valve to minimize stasis.

Claim 23

In a pulsatile heart pump assembly having a chamber, pressure producing means in communication with the chamber, a ventricle assembly at least partly in the chamber including an inlet fitting and an outlet fitting, wherein the improvement comprises: a first valve communicating with one of said fittings and having a cross section substantially equal to the cross section of said one fitting in the normally open position of the valve whereby the pressure drop across the valve is at a minimum.

Claim 24

In a pulsatile heart pump assembly having a chamber, pressure producing means in communication with the chamber, a ventricle assembly at least partly in the chamber including an inlet fitting and an outlet fitting, wherein the improvement comprises: a first valve communicating with one of said fittings and having a cross section substantially equal to the cross section of said one fitting in the normally open position of the valve whereby the pressure drop across the valve is at a minimum.

Claim 25

A pulsatile heart pump assembly as claimed in claim 19, wherein a second valve communicates with said other fitting and has a cross section substantially equal to the cross section of said other fitting in the normally open position of the valve whereby the pressure drop across the valve is at a minimum.

Claim 26

A pulsatile heart pump assembly as claimed in claim 20, wherein said first and second valves comprise elongated leaflet valves.

Claim 27

A ventricle assembly for a heart pump, comprising: an inlet fitting, an elongated leaflet valve wider than the inlet fitting and having a hydraulic radius substantially equal to the inlet fitting in the normally open position of the valve, a ventricle surrounding at one end the inlet fitting and adapted to be filled with blood, an outlet valve at the other end of the ventricle and an outlet fitting communicating with said outlet valve.

Claim 28

A ventricle assembly for a heart pump, comprising: an inlet fitting, an elongated leaflet valve wider than the inlet fitting and having a hydraulic radius substantially equal to the inlet fitting in the normally open position of the valve, a ventricle surrounding at one end the inlet fitting and adapted to be filled with blood, an outlet valve at the other end of the ventricle and an outlet fitting communicating with said outlet valve.

Claim 29

A ventricle assembly for a heart pump, comprising: an inlet fitting, an elongated inlet leaflet valve communicating with said inlet fitting and having a cross section approximately equal to the cross section of the inlet fitting in the normally open position of the valve, a ventricle surrounding said inlet valve and extending in said chamber, an elongated outlet leaflet valve at the other end of the ventricle, an outlet fitting communicating with said outlet valve, and said outlet valve in its normally open position having a cross section substantially equal to that of the outlet fitting so that the pressure drop across the inlet and outlet valves is at a minimum.

Claim 30

A ventricle assembly for a heart pump, comprising: an inlet fitting, an elongated inlet leaflet valve communicating with said inlet fitting and having a cross section approximately equal to the cross section of the inlet fitting in the normally open position of the valve, a ventricle surrounding said inlet valve and extending in said chamber, an elongated outlet leaflet valve at the other end of the ventricle, an outlet fitting communicating with said outlet valve, and said outlet valve in its normally open position having a cross section substantially equal to that of the outlet fitting so that the pressure drop across the inlet and outlet valves is at a minimum.