# US 12,109,404 B2 · Blood pump for mechanical circulatory support for Fontan patients

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- Number: US 12,109,404 B2
- Document ID: US12109404B2
- Status: Granted
- Kind: B2
- Application number: 16/973,832
- Filed: 2019-06-11
- Published: 2021-09-02
- Granted: 2024-10-08
- Earliest claimed: 2018-06-11
- Assignees: UniversitäT ZüRich
- Applicants: UniversitäT ZüRich
- Inventors: Marcus Granegger; Michael Hübler; Bente Thamsen; Martin Schweiger
- Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US12109404B2

## CPC

- A61M 60/515: Regulation using real-time patient data
- A61M 60/148: in line with a blood vessel using resection or like techniques, e.g. permanent endovascular heart assist devices
- A61M 60/226: the blood flow through the rotating member having mainly radial components
- A61M 60/35: for specific surgeries, e.g. for Fontan procedure
- A61M 60/422: the force acting on the blood contacting member being electromagnetic, e.g. using canned motor pumps
- A61M 60/531: using blood pressure data, e.g. from blood pressure sensors
- A61M 60/538: Regulation using real-time blood pump operational parameter data, e.g. motor current
- A61M 60/806: Vanes or blades
- A61M 60/81: Pump housings
- A61M 60/82: Magnetic bearings
- A61M 60/825: Contact bearings, e.g. ball-and-cup or pivot bearings
- A61M 2205/04: implanted
- A61M 2205/3334: Measuring or controlling the flow rate
- A61M 2250/00: Specially adapted for animals
- 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

The invention relates to a radial blood pump (1) for supporting a blood flow (106) in a human or animal heart (205) comprising a first and a second inlet channel (41, 42), a first outlet channel (51, 52), a first electric motor (71) comprising a first stator (77) and a first internal rotor (75), wherein the first electric motor (71) is configured to drive an impeller (2, 2a, 2b) arranged at an intersection of the first with the second inlet channel (41, 42), wherein the impeller (2, 2a, 2b) is connected to the first internal rotor (75) and wherein the impeller (2, 2a, 2b) comprises a merging portion (22) arranged at the intersection, where a merging of a first blood flow (106) coming from the first inlet channel (41) and a second blood flow (107) coming from the second inlet channel (42) takes place, wherein the impeller (2, 2a, 2b) is configured to pump the first and second blood flow (106, 107) from the first and second inlet channel (41, 42) via the merging portion (22) to the first outlet channel (51), a plurality of blades (20) comprised by the impeller (2, 2a, 2b), wherein the blades (20) form blade channels (21) comprised by the merging portion (22), wherein each blade (20) is arranged and configured to pump the first and second blood (106, 107) flow entering through the first and the second inlet channel (41, 42) towards the outlet channel (51), wherein the blood pump (1) is arranged and configured such that the first blood flow (106) and the second blood flow (107) meet at the merging portion (22), such that a pressure difference between the first and second blood flow (106, 107) is reduced before blood from first and second blood flow (106, 107) is pumped to the first outlet channel (51).

## Claims

### Claim 1

A radial blood pump (1), for supporting a blood flow (106) in a human or animal heart (205) comprising at least the following components:
A first and a second inlet channel (41, 42),
A first outlet channel (51, 52),
A first electric motor (71) comprising a first stator (77) and a first internal rotor (75), wherein the first electric motor (71) is configured to drive
An impeller (2, 2b) arranged at an intersection of the first with the second inlet channel (41, 42), wherein the impeller (2, 2b) is connected to the first internal rotor (75) and wherein the impeller (2, 2b) comprises a merging portion (22) arranged at the intersection, where a merging of a first blood flow (106) coming from the first inlet channel (41) and a second blood flow (107) coming from the second inlet channel (42) takes place, wherein the impeller (2, 2b) is configured to pump the first and second blood flow (106, 107) from the first and second inlet channel (41, 42) via the merging portion (22) to the first outlet channel (51),
A plurality of blades (20) comprised by the impeller (2, 2b), wherein the blades (20) form blade channels (21) comprised by the merging portion (22), wherein each blade (20) is arranged and configured to pump the first and second blood (106, 107) flow entering through the first and the second inlet channel (41, 42) towards the outlet channel (51), wherein
the blood pump (1) is arranged and configured such that the first blood flow (106) and the second blood flow (107) meet at the merging portion (22), such that a pressure difference between the first and second blood flow (106, 107) is reduced before blood from first and second blood flow (106, 107) is pumped to the first outlet channel (51), wherein the impeller (2b) is a closed double-suction impeller, wherein the impeller (2, 2b) comprises a first and a second shroud (24) at least partially covering the blades (20), and wherein the merging portion (22) comprises two eyes (23), wherein the radial blood pump (1) comprises a straight line fluidic passage between the first and the second inlet channel (41, 42), wherein the straight line fluidic passage extends through the eyes (23) of the closed double suction impeller (2, 2b).

### Claim 2 (depends on 1)

Radial blood pump according to claim 1, wherein the blood pump (1) comprises a second electric motor (72) comprising a second stator (78) and a second internal rotor (76), wherein the second internal rotor (76) is rigidly connected to the first internal rotor (75).

### Claim 3 (depends on 2)

Radial blood pump according to claim 2, wherein the first electric motor (71) is arranged in a first half space (S1) extending from a plane (103) extending orthogonally from an axis of rotation (104) of the impeller (2, 2b) comprising the first inlet channel (41) and the second electric motor (72) is arranged in a second half space (S2) extending from the said plane (103) comprising the second inlet channel (42).

### Claim 4 (depends on 2)

Radial blood pump according to claim 2, wherein the radial blood pump (1) has a housing (3) comprising the first and/or the second stator (77, 78), the housing (3) encasing at least the following components:
the impeller (2, 2b);
the first and/or the second internal rotor (75, 76);
wherein a distance (8, 9) between an inner wall portion (30) of the housing (3) and said components is at least 0.25 mm, preferably at least 0.5 mm throughout the blood pump (1).

### Claim 5 (depends on 2)

The radial blood pump according to claim 2, wherein the second internal rotor (76) of the second electric motor (72) is arranged on the second shroud (24).

### Claim 6 (depends on 1)

Radial blood pump according to claim 1, wherein the impeller (2, 2b) is a symmetric double-suction impeller (2, 2b).

### Claim 7 (depends on 1)

Radial blood pump according to claim 1, wherein the two eyes (23) each have a diameter that is larger than 2.5 mm.

### Claim 8 (depends on 1)

Radial blood pump according to claim 1, wherein the first internal rotor (75) of the first electric motor (71) is arranged on the first shroud (24).

### Claim 9 (depends on 1)

Radial blood pump according to claim 1, wherein the first and the second inlet channel (41, 42) are arranged opposite to each other and wherein the blades (20) are configured such that the straight-line fluidic passage (105) is provided between the first inlet channel (41) and the second inlet channel (42) through the eyes (23) of the impeller (2, 2b), such that a pressure difference between the first and the second blood flow (106, 107) is reduced before the blood of the first and the second blood flow (106, 107) is pumped to the first or second outlet channel (51, 52).

### Claim 10 (depends on 1)

Radial blood pump according to claim 1, wherein the blood pump (1) comprises an active magnetic bearing (62), or wherein the blood pump (1) comprises a mechanic bearing (61).

### Claim 11 (depends on 1)

Radial blood pump according to claim 1, wherein the blood pump (1) comprises a second outlet channel (52) to which blood from the first and/or second inlet channel (41, 42) can be pumped by the impeller (2, 2b).

### Claim 12 (depends on 11)

The radial blood pump according to claim 11, wherein the second outlet channel (52) is arranged in a tangential direction with respect to the impeller (2, 2b).

### Claim 13 (depends on 1)

System with a blood pump (1) according to claim 1 and a device for electric power transfer, wherein the system further comprises a sensor (11) for estimating a hemodynamic signal (300) and a controller (300) that is configured to adjust a pump rate according to the determined hemodynamic signal (300).

### Claim 14 (depends on 13)

System according to claim 13, wherein the device for electric power transfer is configured to wirelessly transfer the electric power to the blood pump (1), wherein the electric power transfer device comprises a power receiver and a power transceiver, wherein the power receiver is electrically connected to the blood pump (1) and configured for providing the blood pump (1) with electric energy transferred from the power transceiver to the power receiver.

### Claim 15 (depends on 13)

Method for adjusting a pump rate according to a hemodynamic signal (300) with a system according to claim 13, comprising the steps of:
Determining at least one hemodynamic signal (300) of a patient having implanted the radial blood pump (1);
Determining from the determined hemodynamic signal (300) a required pump output rate for the first outlet channel (51);
Adjusting the radial blood pump (1) such that the determined pump output rate is achieved.

### Claim 16 (depends on 13)

The radial blood pump according to claim 13, wherein the sensor (11) is a pressure sensor.