# US 11,998,728 B2 · Hybrid gyroscopic switchable blood pump > Agents: this data is available as JSON from the patentgrep API and MCP server — see https://patentgrep.com/llms.txt - Number: US 11,998,728 B2 - Document ID: US11998728B2 - Status: Granted - Kind: B2 - Application number: 17/143,380 - Filed: 2021-01-07 - Published: 2021-07-08 - Granted: 2024-06-04 - Earliest claimed: 2020-01-07 - Assignees: Drexel University - Applicants: Drexel University - Inventors: Amy L. Throckmorton; Carson Fox; Harutyun Sarkisyan; Steven Chopski - Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US11998728B2 ## CPC - A61M 60/178: drawing blood from a ventricle and returning the blood to the arterial system via a cannula external to the ventricle, e.g. left or right ventricular assist devices - A61M 60/196: replacing the entire heart, e.g. total artificial hearts [TAH] - A61M 60/232: Centrifugal pumps - A61M 60/237: the blood flow through the rotating member having mainly axial components, e.g. axial flow pumps - A61M 60/422: the force acting on the blood contacting member being electromagnetic, e.g. using canned motor pumps - A61M 60/489: the force acting on the actuation means being magnetic - A61M 60/802: of non-positive displacement blood pumps - A61M 60/81: Pump housings - A61M 60/855: of implantable pumps or pumping devices - 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 switchable pump device is provided and comprises a pump assembly including first and second pumps each having a separate inlet and outlet, an inner core or shell housing the pump assembly, and an outer shell housing the inner shell and having a pair of openings. The outer shell is interconnected to the inner shell such that the inner shell is movable relative to the outer shell to enable the inlet and outlet of a selected one of the first and second pumps to be aligned with the pair of openings in the outer shell to place the selected one of the first and second pumps in an operational condition while the other of the first and second pumps is positioned in an inoperative condition. ## Claims ### Claim 1 A switchable pump device, comprising: a pump assembly including first and second pumps each having a separate inlet and outlet; an inner shell housing said pump assembly; and an outer shell housing said inner shell and having a pair of openings, said outer shell being interconnected to said inner shell such that said inner shell is movable relative to said outer shell to enable the inlet and outlet of one of said first and second pumps to be aligned with said pair of openings in said outer shell to place said one of said first and second pumps in an operational condition while the other of said first and second pumps is placed in an inoperative condition. ### Claim 2 (depends on 1) The switchable pump device according to claim 1, wherein at least one of said first and second pumps is a centrifugal pump. ### Claim 3 (depends on 1) The switchable pump device according to claim 1, wherein at least one of said first and second pumps is an axial flow pump. ### Claim 4 (depends on 1) The switchable pump device according to claim 1, wherein the first and second pumps include a centrifugal pump and an axial flow pump. ### Claim 5 (depends on 1) The switchable pump device according to claim 1, wherein the switchable pump device is a blood pump, an implantable blood pump, a right or left ventricular assist device, or part of a total artificial heart. ### Claim 6 (depends on 1) The switchable pump device according to claim 1, wherein said pump assembly comprises: a pump casing including an outer housing and an integral hollow support shaft extending therethrough, said casing defining a first flow path of said first pump within the outer housing about an exterior of said hollow support shaft and a separate second flow path of said second pump extending within said hollow support shaft; said first pump being a centrifugal flow pump and having an annular impeller housed within said outer housing of said casing for rotation about said hollow support shaft; and said second pump being an axial flow pump and having an axial flow impeller housed within said hollow support shaft of said casing. ### Claim 7 (depends on 1) The switchable pump device according to claim 1, wherein said inner shell is rotatable within and relative to said outer shell. ### Claim 8 (depends on 7) The switchable pump device according to claim 7, wherein said outer shell is interconnected to said inner shell with a gyroscopic-based switching mechanism. ### Claim 9 (depends on 8) The switchable pump device according to claim 8, wherein said gyroscopic-based switching mechanism includes a wheel located within opposite grooves formed in the inner and outer shells. ### Claim 10 (depends on 8) The switchable pump device according to claim 8, wherein said gyroscopic-based switching mechanism comprises a gear system including a rack and pinion. ### Claim 11 (depends on 8) The switchable pump device according to claim 8, wherein said gyroscopic-based switching mechanism comprises a fluid driven system including a fluid path extending between said inner and outer shells interconnected to a source of fluid. ### Claim 12 (depends on 8) The switchable pump device according to claim 8, wherein said gyroscopic-based switching mechanism comprises a spring. ### Claim 13 (depends on 8) The switchable pump device according to claim 8, wherein said gyroscopic-based switching mechanism comprises magnets. ### Claim 14 (depends on 8) The switchable pump device according to claim 8, wherein said gyroscopic-based switching mechanism comprises a pin that is configured to travel within a slot. ### Claim 15 (depends on 8) The switchable pump device according to claim 8, wherein said gyroscopic-based switching mechanism comprises a cable. ### Claim 16 A method of switching between two types of blood pumps, comprising a step of activating a switching mechanism of a switchable pump device implanted within a patient, the switchable pump device including a first pump in an operational condition and a second pump in an inoperative condition and being connected via cannulas to large blood vessels or ventricles of the patient, and upon activating the switching mechanism, the first pump of the switchable pump device is switched in vivo to the inoperative condition and the second pump of the switchable pump device is switched in vivo to the operational condition, wherein the switchable pump device comprises a pump assembly including the first and second pumps each having a separate inlet and outlet, an inner shell housing said pump assembly, and an outer shell housing said inner shell and having a pair of openings, said outer shell being interconnected to said inner shell such that said inner shell is movable relative to said outer shell during said activating step to enable the inlet and outlet of the second pump to be aligned with said pair of openings in said outer shell to place the second pump in the operational condition while the first pump is placed in the inoperative condition. ### Claim 17 (depends on 16) The method according to claim 16, wherein the first and second pumps include an axial flow pump and a centrifugal pump. ### Claim 18 (depends on 16) The method according to claim 16, wherein during said activating step said inner shell is rotated within and relative to said outer shell.