US5282849A — Ventricle assist device with volume displacement …

Claim 1

Independent Claim 238 words

A ventricle assist device for placement within a living body and including a self-contained drive motor for generating pumping action with respect to a hydraulic pumping fluid which is reversibly transferred to and from a pumping chamber for effecting blood transfer, said device comprising: a ventricle comprised of a ventricle housing and an internal pumping membrane which divides the ventricle into a blood chamber and a pumping chamber, said blood chamber including inlet and outlet means for enabling unidirectional blood flow to and from the ventricle; a separate volume displacement chamber structured as a collapsible bag without a pumping diaphragm and having sufficient fluid volume to receive pumping fluid from the pumping chamber when the blood chamber is in diastole and the pumping chamber is at minimal volume; interconnect means coupled between the pumping chamber and the volume displacement chamber and defining a fluid flow channel for delivery of the pumping fluid between the displacement chamber and the pumping chamber of the ventricle; and a fluid pump and drive motor positioned at the interconnect means and being capable of reversible pumping action to transfer hydraulic fluid through the interconnect means and between the displacement chamber and the pumping chamber, said fluid pump and drive motor being positioned substantially within the volume displacement chamber such that a substantial exterior portion of the fluid pump and drive motor is contacted by the pumping fluid contained within the volume displacement chamber.

Claim 2

Dependent Claim 238 words

A ventricle assist device for placement within a living body and including a self-contained drive motor for generating pumping action with respect to a hydraulic pumping fluid which is reversibly transferred to and from a pumping chamber for effecting blood transfer, said device comprising: a ventricle comprised of a ventricle housing and an internal pumping membrane which divides the ventricle into a blood chamber and a pumping chamber, said blood chamber including inlet and outlet means for enabling unidirectional blood flow to and from the ventricle; a separate volume displacement chamber structured as a collapsible bag without a pumping diaphragm and having sufficient fluid volume to receive pumping fluid from the pumping chamber when the blood chamber is in diastole and the pumping chamber is at minimal volume; interconnect means coupled between the pumping chamber and the volume displacement chamber and defining a fluid flow channel for delivery of the pumping fluid between the displacement chamber and the pumping chamber of the ventricle; and a fluid pump and drive motor positioned at the interconnect means and being capable of reversible pumping action to transfer hydraulic fluid through the interconnect means and between the displacement chamber and the pumping chamber, said fluid pump and drive motor being positioned substantially within the volume displacement chamber such that a substantial exterior portion of the fluid pump and drive motor is contacted by the pumping fluid contained within the volume displacement chamber.

Claim 3

Dependent Claim 51 words

A device as defined in claim 1, wherein the fluid pump comprises an axial flow pump, said exterior portion of the pump and drive motor being comprised of heat transfer material which permits thermal transfer of energy from the drive motor into the hydraulic fluid contained within the volume displacement chamber.

Claim 4

Dependent Claim 29 words

A device as defined in claim 1, wherein at least half of the exterior portion of the fluid pump and drive motor is contained within the volume displacement chamber.

Claim 5

Dependent Claim 56 words

A device as defined in claim 1, wherein the fluid pump and drive motor includes a proximal end in relation to the pumping chamber and a distal end, said proximal end being attached and sealed at the interconnect means, a remaining portion of the fluid pump and drive motor being housed within the volume displacement chamber.

Claim 6

Dependent Claim 46 words

A device as defined in claim 4, further comprising strain relief means positioned adjacent to the distal end of the fluid pump and drive motor to prevent a wall portion which encloses the volume displacement chamber from being sucked into the fluid pump and drive motor.

Claim 7

Dependent Claim 56 words

A device as defined in claim 5, wherein the strain relief means comprises a flap attached to the distal end of the fluid pump and drive motor, said flap projecting beyond said distal end and being operable to restrain movement of the wall portion of the displacement chamber from collapsing against the distal end during systole.

Claim 8

Dependent Claim 49 words

A device as defined in claim 1, wherein the interconnect means comprises a tubular interconnect which is flexible and has sufficient length to permit placement of the ventricle in proximity to a patient's cardiac cavity and the volume displacement chamber in the area of a patient's thorax or abdomen.

Claim 9

Dependent Claim 65 words

A device as defined in claim 7, wherein the fluid pump and drive motor are positioned within a casing which has an outer diameter slightly smaller than an inner diameter of the tubular interconnect, said casing being positioned and sealed at a proximal end within the tubular interconnect to provide a flow path through the tubular interconnect and fluid pump to the volume displacement chamber.

Claim 10

Dependent Claim 108 words

A device as defined in claim 1, further comprising a second ventricle and associated second interconnect means coupled to the volume displacement chamber, and further including a second fluid pump and drive motor positioned at the second interconnect means and being capable of reversible pumping action to transfer hydraulic fluid through the second interconnect means and between the displacement chamber and the second pumping chamber of the second ventricle, said second pump and drive motor being positioned substantially within the volume displacement chamber such that a substantial exterior portion of the second pump and drive motor is contacted by the hydraulic fluid contained within the volume displacement chamber.

Claim 11

Dependent Claim 53 words

A device as defined in claim 1, wherein the volume displacement chamber is configured as a disc configuration with opposing first and second exterior convex faces, at least one of the exterior convex faces being compliant to permit expansion of volume contained within the volume displacement chamber for receiving hydraulic fluid contained therein.

Claim 12

Dependent Claim 30 words

A device as defined in claim 10, wherein the first exterior convex comprises rigid material for maintaining the disk configuration, the second exterior convex face being comprised of compliant material.

Claim 13

Dependent Claim 45 words

A device as defined in claim 11, wherein the first convex face comprised of rigid material includes channel indentation projecting away from the volume displacement chamber to provide fluid flow paths if the second convex face of complaint material seats towards the first convex face.

Claim 14

Dependent Claim 259 words

A ventricle assist device for use with a clamshell pumping mechanism within a living body and including a self-contained drive motor for generating pumping action with respect to a hydraulic pumping fluid which is reversibly transferred to and from a pumping chamber for effecting blood transfer, said device comprising: a clamshell pumping mechanisms comprised of a ventricle support housing and an internal pumping membrane which forms an exposed flexible pumping diaphragm for a pumping chamber, said clamshell housing being configured to receive and removably retain an artificial ventricle which includes a blood chamber having inlet and outlet means for enabling unidirectional blood flow to and from the ventricle; a separate volume displacement chamber structured as a collapsible bag without a pumping diaphragm and having sufficient fluid volume to receive pumping fluid from the pumping chamber when the blood chamber is in diastole and the pumping chamber is at minimal volume; interconnect means coupled between the pumping chamber and the volume displacement chamber and defining a fluid flow channel for delivery of the pumping fluid between the displacement chamber and the pumping chamber of the ventricle; and a fluid pump and drive motor positioned at the interconnect means and being capable of reversible pumping action to transfer the pumping fluid through the interconnect means and between the displacement chamber and the pumping chamber, said pump and drive motor being positioned substantially within the volume displacement chamber such that a substantial exterior portion of the pump and drive motor is contacted by the pumping fluid contained within the volume displacement chamber.

Claim 15

Dependent Claim 259 words

A ventricle assist device for use with a clamshell pumping mechanism within a living body and including a self-contained drive motor for generating pumping action with respect to a hydraulic pumping fluid which is reversibly transferred to and from a pumping chamber for effecting blood transfer, said device comprising: a clamshell pumping mechanisms comprised of a ventricle support housing and an internal pumping membrane which forms an exposed flexible pumping diaphragm for a pumping chamber, said clamshell housing being configured to receive and removably retain an artificial ventricle which includes a blood chamber having inlet and outlet means for enabling unidirectional blood flow to and from the ventricle; a separate volume displacement chamber structured as a collapsible bag without a pumping diaphragm and having sufficient fluid volume to receive pumping fluid from the pumping chamber when the blood chamber is in diastole and the pumping chamber is at minimal volume; interconnect means coupled between the pumping chamber and the volume displacement chamber and defining a fluid flow channel for delivery of the pumping fluid between the displacement chamber and the pumping chamber of the ventricle; and a fluid pump and drive motor positioned at the interconnect means and being capable of reversible pumping action to transfer the pumping fluid through the interconnect means and between the displacement chamber and the pumping chamber, said pump and drive motor being positioned substantially within the volume displacement chamber such that a substantial exterior portion of the pump and drive motor is contacted by the pumping fluid contained within the volume displacement chamber.

Claim 16

Dependent Claim 51 words

A device as defined in claim 13, wherein the fluid pump comprises an axial flow pump, said exterior portion of the pump and drive motor being comprised of heat transfer material which permits thermal transfer of energy from the drive motor into the hydraulic fluid contained within the volume displacement chamber.

Claim 17

Dependent Claim 29 words

A device as defined in claim 13, wherein at least half of the exterior portion of the fluid pump and drive motor is contained within the volume displacement chamber.

Claim 18

Dependent Claim 56 words

A device as defined in claim 13, wherein the fluid pump and drive motor includes a proximal end in relation to the pumping chamber and a distal end, said proximal end being attached and sealed at the interconnect means, a remaining portion of the fluid pump and drive motor being housed within the volume displacement chamber.

Claim 19

Dependent Claim 47 words

A device as defined in claim 16, further comprising strain relief means positioned with respect to the distal end of the fluid pump and drive motor to prevent a wall portion which encloses the volume displacement chamber from being sucked into the fluid pump and drive motor.

Claim 20

Dependent Claim 56 words

A device as defined in claim 17, wherein the strain relief means comprises a flap attached to the distal end of the fluid pump and drive motor, said flap projecting beyond said distal end and being operable to restrain movement of the wall portion of the displacement chamber from collapsing against the distal end during systole.

Claim 21

Dependent Claim 49 words

A device as defined in claim 13, wherein the interconnect means comprises a tubular interconnect which is flexible and has sufficient length to permit placement of the ventricle in proximity to a patient's cardiac cavity and the volume displacement chamber in the area of a patient's thorax or abdomen.

Claim 22

Dependent Claim 65 words

A device as defined in claim 19, wherein the fluid pump and drive motor are positioned within a casing which has an outer diameter slightly smaller than an inner diameter of the tubular interconnect, said casing being positioned and sealed at a proximal end within the tubular interconnect to provide a flow path through the tubular interconnect and fluid pump to the volume displacement chamber.

Claim 23

Dependent Claim 108 words

A device as defined in claim 13, further comprising a second ventricle and associated second interconnect means coupled to the volume displacement chamber, and further including a second fluid pump and drive motor positioned at the second interconnect means and being capable of reversible pumping action to transfer pumping fluid through the second interconnect means and between the displacement chamber and the second pumping chamber of the second ventricle, said second pump and drive motor being positioned substantially within the volume displacement chamber such that a substantial exterior portion of the second pump and drive motor is contacted by the pumping fluid contained within the volume displacement chamber.

Annuity Stage	Window Opens	Payment Deadline	Surcharge Period Until	Estimated Fee	Status
3.5 Years (Year 4)	1997-01-31	1997-08-02	1998-02-01	$2000.00	Window Closed / Lapsed
7.5 Years (Year 8)	2001-01-31	2001-08-02	2002-02-01	$3760.00	Window Closed / Lapsed
11.5 Years (Year 12)	2005-01-31	2005-08-02	2006-02-01	$7700.00	Window Closed / Lapsed

Ventricle assist device with volume displacement chamber

Abstract

Inventors

Bibliographic Details

Claims Analysis

References Cited (Backward Citations)

USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows

Assigned Categories & Tags

Assign Category Tag