Patent US5306295A successfully refreshed from Google Patents.
US5306295A
Expired / Lapsed
US
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Electrohydraulic heart with septum mounted pump
Assignee: University of Utah
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Filing: 1992-04-30
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Granted: 1994-04-26
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Expires: 2012-04-30
Abstract
Abstract A total artificial heart for placement inside a living body comprising right and left ventricle enclosures, wherein each ventricle includes an exterior wall formed of (i) contacting wall structure and (ii) noncontacting wall structure which collectively enclose an interior volume comprised of a blood chamber and a pumping chamber. The contacting wall structure of each ventricle enclosure is configured for intercontacting relationship wherein the contacting walls of the respective ventricles form a septum which structurally separates the interior volume of the right ventricle from the interior volume of the left ventricle. The noncontacting wall structure comprises the remaining exterior wall of each ventricle enclosure. A fluid drive motor capable of reversible flow is positioned within and circumscribed by the septum and includes a flow channel therethrough which communicates between the respective pumping chambers of the right and left ventricle enclosures. A pumping fluid is contained within the pumping chambers and is responsive to the fluid drive motor to be reversibly transferred between the pumping chambers of the right and left ventricle to enlarge and contract the blood chamber and thereby simulate natural pumping action of the heart.
Inventors
- 👤 Willem J. Kolff
- 👤 Stephen R. Topaz
- 👤 Peter A. Topaz
- 👤 N. Dan Bishop
- 👤 Dmitry M. Golub
- 👤 Long S. Yu
- 👤 Yvo Smulders
- 👤 Mark Stegeman
- 👤 Cornelis Verhoef
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-10-24 21:39
CPC Classifications
A; A61; A61M; A61M60/00; A61M60/80; A61M60/855; A61M60/89; A61M60/894; A61M60/896; A61M60/40; A61M60/424; A61M60/427; A61M60/432; A61M60/10; A61M60/122; A61M60/196; A61M60/50; A61M60/508; A61M60/515; A61M60/538; A61M60/835; A61M60/837; A61M60/871; A61M60/873; A61M60/878; A61M2205/00; A61M2205/33; A61M2205/3303; A61M60/126; A61M60/148; A61M60/802; A61M60/818; A61M60/824
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 15
Claim 1
Independent Claim
346 words
A total artificial heart (TAH) for placement inside a living body, said TAH comprising: first and second ventricle enclosures operable as left and right ventricles in the TAH, each ventricle enclosure having an exterior wall formed of (i) contacting wall structure and (ii) noncontacting wall structure which collectively encloses an interior volume comprised of a block chamber and pumping chamber, said interior volume including at least one pumping membrane sealed at a single, continuous periphery of the pumping membrane at an upper portion of an interior surface of the exterior wall and configured to divide said block chamber from said pumping chamber, said pumping membrane being continuous and uninterrupted within the single, continuous periphery; said contacting wall structure of each ventricle enclosure being configured for intercontacting relationship wherein the contacting walls of the respective ventricles form a septum which structurally separates the interior volume of the first ventricle enclosure from the interior volume of the second ventricle enclosure; said noncontacting wall structure comprising the remaining exterior wall of each ventricle enclosure; said pumping chamber of each ventricle being enclosed by at least a portion of (i) the septum, (ii) the pumping membrane and (iii) any surrounding noncontacting wall structure; said blood chamber being positioned above the pumping membrane, each blood chamber having valved inlet and outlet means suitable for use in a TAH to enable unidirectional flow of blood through each ventricle in response to pumping action of the pumping membrane; a single, fluid drive motor capable of reversible flow and being positioned within and circumscribed by the septum and including a flow channel therethrough which communicates between the respective pumping chambers of the first and second ventricle enclosures; powering means for driving the fluid drive motor; and a fluid medium contained within the pumping chambers and being responsive to the fluid drive motor to be reversibly transferred between the pumping chambers of the first and second ventricle enclosures and to reversibly extend and retract the continuous pumping membrane to enlarge and contract the blood chamber and thereby simulate natural pumping action of a natural heart.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
346 words
A total artificial heart (TAH) for placement inside a living body, said TAH comprising: first and second ventricle enclosures operable as left and right ventricles in the TAH, each ventricle enclosure having an exterior wall formed of (i) contacting wall structure and (ii) noncontacting wall structure which collectively encloses an interior volume comprised of a block chamber and pumping chamber, said interior volume including at least one pumping membrane sealed at a single, continuous periphery of the pumping membrane at an upper portion of an interior surface of the exterior wall and configured to divide said block chamber from said pumping chamber, said pumping membrane being continuous and uninterrupted within the single, continuous periphery; said contacting wall structure of each ventricle enclosure being configured for intercontacting relationship wherein the contacting walls of the respective ventricles form a septum which structurally separates the interior volume of the first ventricle enclosure from the interior volume of the second ventricle enclosure; said noncontacting wall structure comprising the remaining exterior wall of each ventricle enclosure; said pumping chamber of each ventricle being enclosed by at least a portion of (i) the septum, (ii) the pumping membrane and (iii) any surrounding noncontacting wall structure; said blood chamber being positioned above the pumping membrane, each blood chamber having valved inlet and outlet means suitable for use in a TAH to enable unidirectional flow of blood through each ventricle in response to pumping action of the pumping membrane; a single, fluid drive motor capable of reversible flow and being positioned within and circumscribed by the septum and including a flow channel therethrough which communicates between the respective pumping chambers of the first and second ventricle enclosures; powering means for driving the fluid drive motor; and a fluid medium contained within the pumping chambers and being responsive to the fluid drive motor to be reversibly transferred between the pumping chambers of the first and second ventricle enclosures and to reversibly extend and retract the continuous pumping membrane to enlarge and contract the blood chamber and thereby simulate natural pumping action of a natural heart.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
32 words
A TAH as defined in claim 1, wherein the exterior wall is formed of a deformable, biocompatable polymer material which may be collapsed to a reduced size during implantation of the TAH.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
48 words
A TAH as defined in claim 1, wherein the fluid drive motor comprises a disk shaped motor with a centrally located impeller assembly positioned within the flow channel and plane of the septum and being capable of bidirectional, rotational movement to facilitate reversible flow of the fluid medium.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
36 words
A TAH as defined in claim 3, wherein the impeller assembly is supported at its perimeter by a hydrodynamic bearing, said impeller assembly being magnetically actuated by a circumscribing or centrally located armature and electrical stator.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
32 words
A TAH as defined in claim 1, wherein said powering means comprises a transcutaneous power supply which transfers electrical power to the fluid drive motor without being in direct, electrical contact therewith.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
88 words
A TAH as defined in claim 1, further comprising an air drive line coupled to each ventricle and being in direct fluid communication with the pumping chamber, each air drive line having a distal end configured for placement near and under the skin of a host patient such that quick access is enabled to the respective air drive lines in the event of failure of the fluid drive motor, each drive line including means for sealing its distal end until direct access to the pumping chambers is required.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
51 words
A TAH as defined in claim 6, wherein the powering means for the fluid drive motor includes electrical leads coupled at one end to the fluid drive motor and extending through at least one of the air drive lines to a subdermal layer for electromotive interaction with the external power supply.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
129 words
A TAH as defined in claim 1, wherein each ventricle comprises a single blood sac which defines the blood chamber and also operates as the pumping membrane, said blood sac having a snout which includes the inflow and outflow valves for transfer of blood to and from the blood chamber, said pumping chamber being defined by the single blood sac which operates concurrently as the pumping membrane on a lower end and forms an exterior wall extension of the housing member at an upper end, said blood sac being configured for partial positioning at the lower end within the housing member and being sealed with the housing member to enclose and seal the pumping chamber within the housing, except for the flow channel through the drive motor and septum.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
49 words
A TAH as defined in claim 8, wherein the external wall is substantially comprised of the housing member which defines a large, interior pumping chamber into which the blood sac is inserted, forming a blood chamber which is substantially surrounded on at least one side by the pumping chamber.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
47 words
A TAH as defined in claim 9, wherein the septum is formed by the housing wall which encloses a portion of the pumping chamber, said septum and housing wall having the fluid drive motor positioned therein for transfer of drive fluid between the respective ventricle pumping chambers.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
38 words
A TAH as defined in claim 8, wherein the blood sac is comprised of at least two layers of elastomer, each sheet having a thickness of less than 0.020 inches, said layers including a dispersion of lubricant therebetween.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim
48 words
A TAH as defined in claim 1, wherein the valved inlet and outlet means include at least one bi-leaflet valve wherein the leaflet of the bi-leaflet valve are biased to a partially open position to thereby reduce the response time to valve opening in response to blood flow.
Claim 14
Dependent Claim
41 words
A TAH as defined in claim 12, wherein the respective leaflets of the bi-leaflet valve include polarized magnet means positioned thereon of common polarity with sufficient magnetic field strength to barely urge the respective leaflets to rest in a separated configuration.
Claim 15
Dependent Claim
29 words
A TAH as defined in claim 1, wherein the attachment of the various walls and membranes is substantially seamless to reduce occurrence of clotting and other adverse blood conditions.
References Cited (Backward Citations)
USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows
| Annuity Stage | Window Opens | Payment Deadline | Surcharge Period Until | Estimated Fee | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3.5 Years (Year 4) | 1997-04-25 | 1997-10-25 | 1998-04-26 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 2001-04-25 | 2001-10-25 | 2002-04-26 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 2005-04-25 | 2005-10-25 | 2006-04-26 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |