US5397349A
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Muscle and air powered LVAD
Assignee: University of Utah
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Filing: 1992-07-30
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Granted: 1995-03-14
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Expires: 2012-07-30
Abstract
Abstract A method for providing ventricular assist to a patient with a weak or nonfunctional heart includes attaching an artificial ventricle to a patient and pumping said artificial ventricle with a muscle powered hydraulic pump. This method is enhanced by supplementing said artificial ventricle as needed with a pneumatic pumping system which is hermetically sealed from the hydraulic fluid. The hydraulic pumping power is amplified by driving a first pumping member of larger dimension against a second pumping member of smaller dimension to thereby supply increased force to overcome existing blood pressure.
Inventors
- 👤 Willem J. Kolff
- 👤 Stephen R. Topaz
- 👤 N. Dan Bishop
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-10-24 03:17
CPC Classifications
A; A61; A61M; A61M60/00; A61M60/80; A61M60/855; A61M60/871; A61M60/882; A61M60/10; A61M60/122; A61M60/126; A61M60/161; A61M60/20; A61M60/289; A61M60/40; A61M60/465; A61M60/468; A61M60/50; A61M60/508; A61M60/515; A61M60/857
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 9
Claim 1
Independent Claim
137 words
A method for providing ventricular assist to a patient with a weak or nonfunctional heart, said method comprising the steps of: a) attaching an artificial ventricle to the patient in a ventricular assist location; b) pumping the artificial ventricle with a muscle powered pump which supplies a fluid as a driving force to pump blood from the artificial ventricle to the patient; c) amplifying pumping pressure of the muscle powered pump by (i) directing the driving force onto a first pumping member having a contacting side of larger dimension; and (ii) directing said contacting side of said first pumping member against a contacting side of smaller dimension of a second pumping member without directing said first pumping member against any other pressure-resistant member to thereby transfer the driving force as increased pressure onto said second pumping member.
Claim 2
Independent Claim
137 words
A method for providing ventricular assist to a patient with a weak or nonfunctional heart, said method comprising the steps of: a) attaching an artificial ventricle to the patient in a ventricular assist location; b) pumping the artificial ventricle with a muscle powered pump which supplies a fluid as a driving force to pump blood from the artificial ventricle to the patient; c) amplifying pumping pressure of the muscle powered pump by (i) directing the driving force onto a first pumping member having a contacting side of larger dimension; and (ii) directing said contacting side of said first pumping member against a contacting side of smaller dimension of a second pumping member without directing said first pumping member against any other pressure-resistant member to thereby transfer the driving force as increased pressure onto said second pumping member.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
37 words
A method as in claim 1 wherein step (c) further comprises directing a hydraulic force against a portion of the first pumping member, said portion having a larger dimension than that of the entire second pumping member.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
46 words
A method as in claim 1 wherein step (b) further comprises the following steps: (d) wrapping a compressible hydraulic pumping chamber of the artificial ventricle with a muscle; and (e) stimulating the muscle to expand and contract to thereby alternately compress and release the pumping chamber.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
61 words
A method as in claim 3 wherein the first pumping member is an integral part of the hydraulic pumping chamber and the second pumping member is in integral part of a compressible blood pumping chamber of the artificial ventricle, step (c) further comprising transferring the driving force from the hydraulic pumping chamber onto a blood pumping chamber of the artificial ventricle.
Claim 6
Independent Claim
127 words
A method for providing ventricular assist to a patient with a weak or nonfunctional heart, said method comprising the steps of: a) attaching an artificial ventricle to the patient in a ventricular assist location; b) pumping the artificial ventricle with a muscle powered pump which supplies a liquid actuated driving force to pump blood from the artificial ventricle to the patient; and c) supplementing the artificial ventricle as needed with a pneumatic pumping system sealed from the liquid that operates with respect to the same ventricle; wherein step (b) further comprises directing the driving force to one side of a pumping member having opposing sides, and wherein step (c) further comprises applying a pneumatic pumping force to a side of said pumping member opposite said one side.
Claim 7
Independent Claim
127 words
A method for providing ventricular assist to a patient with a weak or nonfunctional heart, said method comprising the steps of: a) attaching an artificial ventricle to the patient in a ventricular assist location; b) pumping the artificial ventricle with a muscle powered pump which supplies a liquid actuated driving force to pump blood from the artificial ventricle to the patient; and c) supplementing the artificial ventricle as needed with a pneumatic pumping system sealed from the liquid that operates with respect to the same ventricle; wherein step (b) further comprises directing the driving force to one side of a pumping member having opposing sides, and wherein step (c) further comprises applying a pneumatic pumping force to a side of said pumping member opposite said one side.
Claim 8
Independent Claim
104 words
A method for providing ventricular assist to a patient with a weak or nonfunctional heart, said method comprising the steps of: a) attaching an artificial ventricle to the patient in a ventricular assist location; b) pumping the artificial ventricle with a muscle powered pump which supplies a liquid actuated driving force to pump blood from the artificial ventricle to the patient; and c) supplementing the artificial ventricle as needed with a pneumatic pumping system sealed from the liquid that operates with respect to the same ventricle; wherein step (c) further comprises pumping the pneumatic pumping system in counterpulsation to the liquid actuated driving force.
Claim 9
Independent Claim
104 words
A method for providing ventricular assist to a patient with a weak or nonfunctional heart, said method comprising the steps of: a) attaching an artificial ventricle to the patient in a ventricular assist location; b) pumping the artificial ventricle with a muscle powered pump which supplies a liquid actuated driving force to pump blood from the artificial ventricle to the patient; and c) supplementing the artificial ventricle as needed with a pneumatic pumping system sealed from the liquid that operates with respect to the same ventricle; wherein step (c) further comprises pumping the pneumatic pumping system in counterpulsation to the liquid actuated driving force.
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| Annuity Stage | Window Opens | Payment Deadline | Surcharge Period Until | Estimated Fee | Status |
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| 3.5 Years (Year 4) | 1998-03-13 | 1998-09-12 | 1999-03-14 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 2002-03-13 | 2002-09-12 | 2003-03-14 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
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