Patent US5273380A successfully refreshed from Google Patents.
US4981484A
Expired / Lapsed
US
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Modified elliptical artificial heart
Assignee: Individual
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Filing: 1989-11-20
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Granted: 1991-01-01
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Expires: 2009-11-20
Abstract
Abstract An artificial heart device for producing heart pumping action as part of a total artificial heart implant comprising a housing of elongate configuration enclosing a pumping volume of sufficient capacity to provide adequate blood flow within the living being. A deformable diaphragm structure is attached at its perimeter to an interior housing surface approximately at the largest perimeter of the pumping volume to form a deformable partition deviding the pumping volume into a blood chamber and a drive chamber. The diaphragm structure has a modified hemi-ellipsoidal configuration when fully extended, modification being represented by four sections of substantially equal quadrants formed by intersection of the diaphragm structure with two orthogonal planes oriented in parallel relationship with the vertical axis. The curvature of each medial section of each quadrant is reduced or flattened to form a medial section having a lower profile as compared to surrounding ellipsoidal curvature. This structure reduces occurrence of bi-axial folding and enhancing random folding activity within the diaphragm. Valve inlet and outlet means are coupled to the housing in communication with the blood flow chamber for attachment along with the circulatory system of a living being. Pumping means are provided for actuating alternating extension and collapse of the diaphragm structure with respect to the drive chamber to simulate pumping action of the natural heart.
Inventors
- 👤 John W. Holfert
- 👤 Don B. Olsen
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-10-23 18:46
CPC Classifications
A; A61; A61M; A61M60/00; A61M60/80; A61M60/855; A61M60/89; A61M60/894; A61M60/10; A61M60/122; A61M60/196; A61M60/40; A61M60/424; A61M60/427; A61M60/126; A61M60/148
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 17
Claim 1
Independent Claim
314 words
An artificial heart device for producing heart pumping action as part of a total artificial heart implant, said device comprising: a housing of elongate configuration enclosing a pumping volume of sufficient capacity to sustain adequate blood flow within a living being during operation, said housing being substantially symmetrical about its short axis (also referred to as a vertical axis of the housing); a deformable diaphragm structure attached at its perimeter to an interior housing surface approximately at the largest perimeter of the pumping volume about the vertical axis to form a deformable partition dividing the pumping volume into a blood chamber and a drive chamber, said diaphragm structure having a modified hemi-ellipsoidal configuration when fully extended at end of either systole or diastole; said modified hemi-ellipsoidal configuration being characterized by four substantially equal quadrants formed by intersection with the diaphragm structure of two orthogonal planes oriented in parallel relationship with the vertical axis, one plane intersecting across the short width of the housing (referred to as the short plane), the other plane intersecting along the long width (referred to as the long plane), each quadrant of the diaphragm structure being configured with substantial ellipsoidal curvature adjacent the intersecting planes, said curvature being reduced toward the medial section of each quadrant to form a medial section of lower profile as compared to an ellipsoidal curvature; valved inlet and outlet means coupled through the housing in communication with the blood chamber for attachment in line with the circulatory system of the living being and in a flow configuration comparable to one of the two ventricals of a natural heart; pumping means for actuating alternating extension and collapse of the diaphragm structure with respect to the drive chamber in a recurring pumping manner to alternately expel and infuse blood from and to the blood chamber in a manner comparable to the pumping action of a natural heart.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
314 words
An artificial heart device for producing heart pumping action as part of a total artificial heart implant, said device comprising: a housing of elongate configuration enclosing a pumping volume of sufficient capacity to sustain adequate blood flow within a living being during operation, said housing being substantially symmetrical about its short axis (also referred to as a vertical axis of the housing); a deformable diaphragm structure attached at its perimeter to an interior housing surface approximately at the largest perimeter of the pumping volume about the vertical axis to form a deformable partition dividing the pumping volume into a blood chamber and a drive chamber, said diaphragm structure having a modified hemi-ellipsoidal configuration when fully extended at end of either systole or diastole; said modified hemi-ellipsoidal configuration being characterized by four substantially equal quadrants formed by intersection with the diaphragm structure of two orthogonal planes oriented in parallel relationship with the vertical axis, one plane intersecting across the short width of the housing (referred to as the short plane), the other plane intersecting along the long width (referred to as the long plane), each quadrant of the diaphragm structure being configured with substantial ellipsoidal curvature adjacent the intersecting planes, said curvature being reduced toward the medial section of each quadrant to form a medial section of lower profile as compared to an ellipsoidal curvature; valved inlet and outlet means coupled through the housing in communication with the blood chamber for attachment in line with the circulatory system of the living being and in a flow configuration comparable to one of the two ventricals of a natural heart; pumping means for actuating alternating extension and collapse of the diaphragm structure with respect to the drive chamber in a recurring pumping manner to alternately expel and infuse blood from and to the blood chamber in a manner comparable to the pumping action of a natural heart.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
44 words
An artificial heart device as defined in claim 1, wherein a base perimeter of the diaphragm comprises a substantially parallel middle section parallel with the long axis of the housing, said parallel middle section merging with semi-circular sections at each end of the diaphragm.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
65 words
An artificial heart device as defined in claim 1, wherein the diaphragm structure comprises a plurality of membrane layers joined individually at their periphery to the interior housing surface at separated perimeter locations, one membrane comprising a blood membrane and being exposed at its interior face to the blood chamber, another membrane comprising a pumping membrane having its exterior face exposed to the pumping chamber.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
51 words
An artificial heart device as defined in claim 3, wherein the blood membrane is attached to the interior housing face such that it projects toward a lower half of the vertical axis within a range of minus 1 to minus 80 degrees with respect to a plane containing the long axis.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
44 words
An artificial heart device as defined in claim 4, wherein the pump membrane is attached to the interior housing face such that it projects approximately parallel with the vertical axis to develop a roll at the pump membrane periphery when in a collapsed position.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
19 words
An artificial heart device as defined in claim 5, further comprising a plurality of pumping membranes in stacked configuration.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
20 words
An artificial heart device as defined in claim 6, wherein the blood membrane projects at approximately -40 to -75 degrees.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
28 words
An artificial heart device as defined in claim 4, wherein the blood membrane is configured as a seamless blood contacting surface for the interior of the blood chamber.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
59 words
An artificial heart device as defined in claim 1, wherein diaphragm structure near the diaphragm perimeter is attached to the interior housing surface and is configured in size and shape to maintain a roll therein when extended to its alternate extreme position during systole and diastole, thereby substantially eliminating stress at the perimeter of attachment to the interior surface.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
26 words
An artificial heart device as defined in claim 1, wherein the diaphragm is configured in an elliptical cross-section at the intersection of the short plane therewith.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
26 words
An artificial heart device as defined in claim 10, wherein the housing is configured in an elliptical cross-section at the intersection of the long plane therewith.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim
42 words
An artificial heart device as defined in claim 1, wherein the amount of curvature reduction is determined by development of predominant uniaxial fold patterns as compared with biaxial fold patterns within the diaphragm quadrant structures as it reciprocates during systole and diastole.
Claim 14
Dependent Claim
22 words
An artificial heart device as defined in claim 1, wherein the medial section of each of the diaphragm quadrants is substantially flat.
Claim 15
Dependent Claim
25 words
An artificial heart device as defined in claim 1, wherein the means for actuating pumping action of the diaphragm structure comprises a pneumatic pumping system.
Claim 16
Dependent Claim
25 words
An artificial heart device as defined in claim 1, wherein the means for actuating pumping action of the diaphragm structure comprises a hydraulic pumping system.
Claim 17
Dependent Claim
102 words
An artificial heart device as defined in claim 1, wherein the housing further includes a base member which closes off a bottom portion of the housing, said base member having an interior surface including an annular channel formed to provide a path for fluid flow at part of the pumping means, said base member further comprising a diaphragm support screen integrally attached at the interior surface of the base member to provide a support surface to the diaphragm during diastole, said screen including an annular array of small openings positioned over the annular channel to enable fluid flow to the pumping chamber.
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USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows
| Annuity Stage | Window Opens | Payment Deadline | Surcharge Period Until | Estimated Fee | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3.5 Years (Year 4) | 1993-12-31 | 1994-07-02 | 1995-01-01 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 1997-12-31 | 1998-07-02 | 1999-01-01 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 2001-12-31 | 2002-07-02 | 2003-01-01 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |