# US 11,298,519 B2 · Use of cardiac assist device to improve kidney function > Agents: this data is available as JSON from the patentgrep API and MCP server — see https://patentgrep.com/llms.txt - Number: US 11,298,519 B2 - Document ID: US11298519B2 - Status: Granted - Kind: B2 - Application number: 16/406,896 - Filed: 2019-05-08 - Published: 2020-07-30 - Granted: 2022-04-12 - Earliest claimed: 2018-05-08 - Assignees: ABIOMED, Inc. - Applicants: Abiomed, Inc. - Inventors: Noam Josephy; Jerald Wayne Curran; Randi Parks - Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US11298519B2 ## CPC - A61M 60/422: the force acting on the blood contacting member being electromagnetic, e.g. using canned motor pumps - A61M 60/13: by means of a catheter allowing explantation, e.g. catheter pumps temporarily introduced via the vascular system - 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 60/216: including a rotating member acting on the blood, e.g. impeller - A61M 60/295: Balloon pumps for circulatory assistance - A61M 60/33: of kidneys - A61M 60/414: transmitted by a rotating cable, e.g. for blood pumps mounted on a catheter - A61M 60/531: using blood pressure data, e.g. from blood pressure sensors - A61M 60/554: of blood pressure - A61M 60/816: Sensors arranged on or in the housing, e.g. ultrasonic flow sensors - A61M 60/857: Implantable blood tubes - A61M 2205/3344: Measuring or controlling pressure at the body treatment site - A61M 2210/1082: Kidney - A61M 2210/125: Heart - 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 Systems and methods for improving kidney function. A first mechanical circulatory support system (MCS) is introduced in a patient's heart, and a second mechanical circulatory support system is introduced in a patient's inferior vena cava or renal vein. The second mechanical circulatory support system is operated while the first mechanical circulatory support system is operating. A renal parameter is monitored during. Combined operation of the two mechanical circulatory support systems results in a change in renal parameter, e.g. pressure drop in the renal vein, indicating an improvement in kidney function. Once the renal parameter is determined to be below a target threshold, operation of the second mechanical circulatory support device is stopped. ## Claims ### Claim 1 A method for modulating kidney function in a patient, comprising the steps of: inserting a first blood pump into a heart of a patient; operating the first blood pump in the heart of the patient so as to increase aortic pressure; inserting a second blood pump into an inferior vena cava of the patient; and operating the second blood pump in the inferior vena cava of the patient and the first blood pump in the heart of the patient such that while the second blood pump is operating, the first blood pump is also operating; and adjusting operation of at least one of the first blood pump and the second blood pump to achieve a target pressure drop at a location in a renal vein or the inferior vena cava of the patient. ### Claim 2 (depends on 1) The method of claim 1, wherein operating the second blood pump includes pumping the second blood pump while the first blood pump is pumping. ### Claim 3 (depends on 2) The method of claim 2, wherein operating the first blood pump maintains or increases arterial pressure in a renal artery of the patient. ### Claim 4 (depends on 3) The method of claim 3, wherein operating the second blood pump maintains or decreases renal vein pressure. ### Claim 5 (depends on 1) The method of claim 1, comprising operating the first blood pump to increase arterial pressure, and operating the second blood pump to decrease renal vein pressure. ### Claim 6 (depends on 2) The method of claim 2, wherein the location is a vascular junction where the renal vein and the inferior vena cava of the patient connect. ### Claim 7 (depends on 2) The method of claim 2, wherein the target pressure drop increases blood flow through a kidney of the patient and increases kidney output. ### Claim 8 (depends on 7) The method of claim 7, wherein the target pressure drop is between about 4 mmHg and about 8 mmHg. ### Claim 9 (depends on 7) The method of claim 7, wherein the target pressure drop is between about 5 mmHg and about 7 mmHg. ### Claim 10 (depends on 2) The method of claim 2, wherein the target pressure drop corresponds to a blood pressure drop across a kidney of the patient. ### Claim 11 (depends on 2) The method of claim 2, wherein combined operation of the first blood pump and the second blood pump flows humoral factors to kidney receptors of the patient to stimulate an increase in urine exiting a kidney of the patient. ### Claim 12 (depends on 1) The method of claim 1, wherein the first blood pump comprises: a pump motor; a pump housing distal of the pump motor, the pump housing surrounding a rotor; and a cannula extending distal of the pump housing; and an atraumatic extension extending distally from the cannula. ### Claim 13 (depends on 1) The method of claim 1, wherein the second blood pump comprises: a pump motor; a pump housing distal of the pump motor, the pump housing surrounding a rotor; and a cannula extending distal of the pump housing. ### Claim 14 (depends on 13) The method of claim 13, wherein the second blood pump further comprises an atraumatic extension extending distally from the cannula. ### Claim 15 (depends on 14) The method of claim 14, wherein the second blood pump is positioned inside the inferior vena cava of the patient such that a distal tip of the atraumatic extension of the second blood pump extends to a location adjacent to an outlet of the renal vein of the patient. ### Claim 16 (depends on 1) The method of claim 1, wherein the first blood pump is inserted into a ventricle of the heart of the patient. ### Claim 17 (depends on 1) The method of claim 1, wherein kidney function is modulated during or after surgery. ### Claim 18 (depends on 1) The method of claim 1, further comprising: receiving, by a controller, an arterial pressure from the first blood pump, and a venous pressure from the second blood pump, determining, by the controller, a pressure drop in the renal vein is not at the target pressure drop in the renal vein; and adjusting, by the controller, operation of at least one of the first blood pump and the second blood pump to achieve the target pressure drop in the renal vein.