Diffusion and infusion resistant implantable devices for reducing pulsatile pressure
AssigneeAria CV, Inc.
InventorsKarl Vollmers, Lynn Zwiers, John Gainor, John Scandurra
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Abstract
Diffusion and infusion resistant implantable devices and methods for reducing pulsatile pressure are provided. The implantable device includes a balloon implantable within a blood vessel of a patient, e.g., the pulmonary artery. The balloon is injected with a fluid mixture comprising a constituent fluid(s) and a diffusion-resistant gas to provide optimal balloon volume and limit fluid diffusion throughout multiple cardiac cycles. The fluid mixture may be pressurized such that the balloon is transitionable between an expanded state and a collapsed state responsive to pressure fluctuations in the blood vessel.
Claims20
A method for introducing fluids into an implantable system, the method comprising:
- implanting a balloon within a blood vessel of a patient;
- determining an amount of a diffusion-resistant fluid to introduce into the balloon and introducing the amount of the diffusion-resistant fluid into the balloon;
- determining an amount of one or more constituent fluids to introduce into the balloon and introducing the amount of the one or more constituent fluids into the balloon;
- permitting the one or more constituent fluids to equilibrate across the balloon such that each of the one or more constituent fluids is pressurized within the balloon to match their respective partial pressure in the blood surrounding the balloon within the blood vessel;
- and
- after a predetermined time period, determining a current volume of fluids within the balloon and either extracting fluids from the balloon or introducing an additional amount of the diffusion-resistant fluid into the balloon to achieve a desired active volume of fluids within the balloon.
A method for refilling an implantable system, the method comprising:
- determining a current volume of fluids within a balloon implanted within a blood vessel of a patient, the current volume of fluids comprising one or more constituent fluids and a diffusion-resistant fluid, each of the one or more constituent fluids pressurized within the balloon to match their respective partial pressure in the blood surrounding the balloon within the blood vessel;
- determining a desired active volume of fluids within the balloon;
- and
- extracting fluids from the balloon or introducing an additional amount of diffusion-resistant fluid into the balloon to achieve the desired active volume of fluids within the balloon based on the current volume of fluids within the balloon,
- wherein the diffusion-resistant fluid and the one or more constituent fluids within the balloon are pressurized such that the balloon is transitionable between an expanded state and a collapsed state responsive to pressure fluctuations in the blood vessel.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.