# US 10,220,129 B2 · Heart assist system and/or device > Agents: this data is available as JSON from the patentgrep API and MCP server — see https://patentgrep.com/llms.txt - Number: US 10,220,129 B2 - Document ID: US10220129B2 - Status: Granted - Kind: B2 - Application number: 14/912,159 - Filed: 2014-07-15 - Published: 2016-07-14 - Granted: 2019-03-05 - Earliest claimed: 2013-08-16 - Assignees: Thorvascular Pty Ltd - Applicants: Thorvascular Pty Ltd; John Begg - Inventors: Peter Ayre; John Begg - Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US10220129B2 ## CPC - A61N 1/3787: {from an external energy source} - A61M 60/135: inside a blood vessel, e.g. using grafting - A61M 60/148: in line with a blood vessel using resection or like techniques, e.g. permanent endovascular heart assist devices - A61M 60/237: the blood flow through the rotating member having mainly axial components, e.g. axial flow pumps - A61M 60/419: the force acting on the blood contacting member being permanent magnetic, e.g. from a rotating magnetic coupling between driving and driven magnets - A61M 60/422: the force acting on the blood contacting member being electromagnetic, e.g. using canned motor pumps - A61M 60/546: of blood flow, e.g. by adapting rotor speed - A61M 60/554: of blood pressure - A61M 60/585: User interfaces - A61M 60/824: Hydrodynamic or fluid film bearings - A61M 60/825: Contact bearings, e.g. ball-and-cup or pivot bearings - A61M 60/861: Connections or anchorings for connecting or anchoring pumps or pumping devices to parts of the patient's body - A61M 60/873: specially adapted for wireless or transcutaneous energy transfer [TET], e.g. inductive charging - A61N 1/40: Applying electric fields by inductive or capacitive coupling (microwave apparatus A61N5/00); {Applying radio-frequency signals} - A61M 2205/0211: Ceramics - A61M 2205/18: with alarm - A61M 2205/3375: Acoustical, e.g. ultrasonic, measuring means - A61M 2205/3538: using electrical conduction through the body of the patient - A61M 2205/3646: by heat accumulators, e.g. ice, sand - A61M 2205/8243: by induction - A61N: ELECTROTHERAPY; MAGNETOTHERAPY; RADIATION THERAPY; ULTRASOUND THERAPY (measurement of bioelectric currents A61B; surgical instruments, devices or methods for transferring non-mechanical forms of energy to or from the body A61B18/00; anaesthetic apparatus in general A61M; incandescent lamps H01K; infrared radiators for heating H05B) - A61M: DEVICES FOR INTRODUCING MEDIA INTO, OR ONTO, THE BODY (introducing media into or onto the bodies of animals A61D7/00; means for inserting tampons A61F13/26; devices for administering food or medicines orally A61J; containers for collecting, storing or administering blood or medical fluids A61J1/05); DEVICES FOR TRANSDUCING BODY MEDIA OR FOR TAKING MEDIA FROM THE BODY (surgery A61B; chemical aspects of surgical articles A61L); DEVICES FOR PRODUCING OR ENDING SLEEP OR STUPOR {(Electrotherapy, e.g. producing anaesthesia by the use of alternating or intermittent currents A61N1/36021)} ## Abstract A cardiac assist device comprising: an implantable pump having a first and second end and adapted to be mounted within a blood vessel, wherein the pump further comprises an impeller that rotates about an axis parallel to the flow of blood through the pump and wherein the impeller lateral movement is restrained between the first and second end by bearings positioned at respective first and second ends; and wherein the pump is powered by a first implanted coil and a second external coil mounted on either side of a skin barrier of a patient, wherein the first and second coils are in electrical communication to relay power across the skin barrier. ## Claims ### Claim 1 A cardiac assist device comprising: an implantable pump having first and second ends and adapted to be mounted within a blood vessel; the pump comprising an impeller that rotates about an axis parallel to the flow of blood through the pump; lateral movement of the impeller is restrained between the first and second ends by bearings positioned at first and second ends, respectively; a battery adapted to power the implantable pump; wherein when the battery is not powering the pump, the pump is powered by a first implantable coil and a second external coil mounted on either side of a skin barrier of a patient, wherein the first and second coils are in electrical communication to relay power across the skin barrier; and wherein a ceramic heat sink positioned in the centre of the first implanted coil. ### Claim 2 (depends on 1) The device of claim 1, wherein the device is powered by only the electrical signals transmitted and received by the first and second coils. ### Claim 3 (depends on 2) The device of claim 2, wherein the device is adapted to not include a percutaneous lead nor an implanted battery. ### Claim 4 (depends on 2) The device of claim 2, wherein the pump is adapted to allow the impeller to free wheel when no electrical current is applied to the pump. ### Claim 5 (depends on 1) The device of claim 1, wherein the pump comprises a journal bearing formed between the outer surface of the impeller and inner walls of a housing, when in use. ### Claim 6 (depends on 1) The device of claim 1, wherein data is relayed between the first and second coils. ### Claim 7 (depends on 1) The device of claim 1, wherein a second heat sink is positioned in the centre of the second external coil. ### Claim 8 (depends on 1) The device of claim 1, wherein proximal to the first or second coil are mounted at least one RF microphone adapted to detect changes in quality or efficiency of the electrical communication between the first and second coil. ### Claim 9 (depends on 1) The device of claim 1, wherein an alarm is mounted proximal to the second coil and is adapted to be activated if the electrical communication falls below a predetermined threshold value. ### Claim 10 (depends on 1) The device of claim 1, wherein bearings are formed by an end of the impeller being engaged by a cup shaped recess. ### Claim 11 (depends on 1) The device of claim 1, wherein the cup shaped recess is constructed of ceramic or zirconium. ### Claim 12 A cardiac assist system comprising: an implantable pump having first and second ends and adapted to be mounted within a blood vessel; the pump further comprises an impeller that rotates about an axis parallel to the flow of blood through the pump; wherein lateral movement of the impeller is restrained between the first and second ends by bearings positioned at the first and second ends, respectively; wherein the pump is powered by battery; and wherein when the battery is disconnected from the pump, the pump can be powered by a first implanted coil and a second external coil mounted on either side of a skin barrier of a patient; wherein the first and second coils are in electrical communication to relay power across the skin barrier; and wherein a ceramic heat sink positioned in the centre of the first implanted coil. ### Claim 13 (depends on 12) The system of claim 12, wherein the system is powered by only the electrical signals transmitted and received by the first and second coils. ### Claim 14 (depends on 12) The system of claim 12, wherein the system is adapted to not include a percutaneous lead nor implanted battery. ### Claim 15 (depends on 12) The system of claim 12, wherein the pump is adapted to allow the impeller to free wheel when no electrical current is applied to the pump. ### Claim 16 (depends on 12) The system of claim 12, wherein the pump comprises a journal bearing formed between the outer surface of the impeller and inner walls of a housing, when in use. ### Claim 17 (depends on 12) The system of claim 12, wherein data is relayed between the first and second coils. ### Claim 18 (depends on 12) The system of claim 12, wherein a second heat sink is positioned in the centre of the second external coil. ### Claim 19 (depends on 12) The system of claim 12, wherein proximal to the first or second coil are mounted at least one RF microphone adapted to detect changes in quality or efficiency of the electrical communication between the first and second coil. ### Claim 20 (depends on 12) The system of claim 12, wherein an alarm is mounted proximal to the second coil and is adapted to be activated if the electrical communication falls below a predetermined threshold value. ### Claim 21 (depends on 12) The system of claim 12, wherein bearings are formed by an end of the impeller being engaged by a cup shaped recess. ### Claim 22 (depends on 12) The system of claim 12, wherein the cup shaped recess is constructed of ceramic or zirconium. ### Claim 23 (depends on 12) The system of claim 12, wherein the system is electrically connected to an alarm module positioned external to the patient.