US4559648A
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Safety control valve for an artificial heart
Assignee: Thoratec LLC
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Filing: 1984-06-28
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Granted: 1985-12-24
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Expires: 2004-06-28
Abstract
Abstract A safety drive for an artificial heart, if the right drive should fail it is simply put out of operation, while if the left drive fails, the right drive, which is still functioning, is switched over to the left circulatory pump and thus serves as a system-internal backup drive.
Inventors
- 👤 Klaus Affeld
- 👤 Axel Mohnhaupt
- 👤 Frank Jorn
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-10-23 01:45
CPC Classifications
A; A61; A61M; A61M60/00; A61M60/40; A61M60/424; A61M60/427; A61M60/10; A61M60/122; A61M60/20; A61M60/247; A61M60/253; A61M60/258; A61M60/80; A61M60/855; A61M60/89; A61M60/892
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 8
Claim 1
Independent Claim
55 words
A safety drive for an artificial heart, comprising left and right pneumatic circulatory pumps each made of biocompatible material and each being driven by one of two mutually independent pneumatic drives, and means for switching the drive for said right pneumatic circulatory pump to serve as a backup drive for the left pneumatic circulatory pump.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
55 words
A safety drive for an artificial heart, comprising left and right pneumatic circulatory pumps each made of biocompatible material and each being driven by one of two mutually independent pneumatic drives, and means for switching the drive for said right pneumatic circulatory pump to serve as a backup drive for the left pneumatic circulatory pump.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
20 words
A safety drive according to claim 1, wherein said means for switching is automatic and includes a mechanically bistable switch.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
14 words
A safety drive according to claim 1 wherein said means for switching is manual.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
31 words
A safety drive according to claim 2 wherein said switching means includes an isolated servo component responsive to an analysis of a compressed air signal from the left pneumatic circulatory pump.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
23 words
A safety drive according to claim 2 wherein the left and right drives are regulated according to an air volume flow reference curve.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
43 words
A safety drive according to claim 2 wherein, in normal operation, the volume flow of the left drive is regulated by the left auricular pressure, and upon failure of the left drive the right drive is also regulated by the left auricular pressure.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
34 words
A safety drive according to claim 2 wherein the left air volume flow is regulated by a signal from an analysis of the pneumatic drive pressure of the left pump in the diastolic phase.
References Cited (Backward Citations)
US2396984A
Cited
US4173796A
Cited
USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows
| Annuity Stage | Window Opens | Payment Deadline | Surcharge Period Until | Estimated Fee | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3.5 Years (Year 4) | 1988-12-23 | 1989-06-24 | 1989-12-24 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 1992-12-23 | 1993-06-24 | 1993-12-24 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 1996-12-23 | 1997-06-24 | 1997-12-24 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |