# US 12,222,267 B2 · Analysis device and method for analyzing a viscosity of a fluid > Agents: this data is available as JSON from the patentgrep API and MCP server — see https://patentgrep.com/llms.txt - Number: US 12,222,267 B2 - Document ID: US12222267B2 - Status: Granted - Kind: B2 - Application number: 15/734,489 - Filed: 2019-06-06 - Published: 2022-02-17 - Granted: 2025-02-11 - Earliest claimed: 2018-06-06 - Assignees: Kardion GmbH - Applicants: Kardion GmbH - Inventors: Ingo Stotz; Thomas Alexander Schlebusch; Tobias Schmid - Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US12222267B2 ## CPC - G01N 11/04: through a restricted passage, e.g. tube, aperture - A61B 5/0031: {Implanted circuitry} - A61B 5/14503: {invasive, e.g. introduced into the body by a catheter or needle or using implanted sensors (A61B5/1459, A61B5/1464, A61B5/1473, A61B5/1482, A61B5/14865 take precedence)} - A61M 60/174: discharging the blood to the ventricle or arterial system via a cannula internal to the ventricle or arterial system - A61M 60/216: including a rotating member acting on the blood, e.g. impeller - A61M 60/422: the force acting on the blood contacting member being electromagnetic, e.g. using canned motor pumps - G01N 33/49: Blood {(chemical methods for determining blood cell populations G01N33/5094; chemical analysis of blood groups or blood types G01N33/80)} - G01F 1/663: by measuring Doppler frequency shift - G01N 2011/0073: {acoustic properties} - G01N: INVESTIGATING OR ANALYSING MATERIALS BY DETERMINING THEIR CHEMICAL OR PHYSICAL PROPERTIES (measuring or testing apparatus or processes other than immunoassay, involving enzymes or microorganisms C12M, C12Q) - A61B: DIAGNOSIS; SURGERY; IDENTIFICATION (usefulness limited to only animals A61D) - 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)} - G01F: MEASURING VOLUME, VOLUME FLOW, MASS FLOW OR LIQUID LEVEL; METERING BY VOLUME ## Abstract The approach presented here relates to an analysis device (100) for analyzing a viscosity of a fluid (217). The analysis device (100) comprises a detection device (110) and a provisioning device (115). The detection device (110) is formed to determine the viscosity of the fluid (217) using at least one Doppler parameter of a Doppler spectrum of the fluid (217). The provisioning device (115) is formed to provide or transmit a viscosity signal that represents the viscosity determined by the detection device (110). ## Claims ### Claim 1 A cardiac assist system comprising: an inlet interface having inlet openings; an outlet interface having outlet openings; a flow machine comprising: an impeller coupled to an electric motor; a connection cable; and a cannula through which a blood flow can be conveyed by the flow machine from the inlet interface to the outlet interface, the cannula configured to extend along an axis across a patient's aortic valve and be coupled to the connection cable, wherein a tip of the cannula is located at a distal end of the cannula; and an analysis device configured to analyze a viscosity of blood in a blood flow of the patient, the analysis device comprising: an ultrasonic element arranged in the tip and configured to generate a sound wave in the blood, wherein the sound wave radiates through the inlet interface into the cannula along the axis and reflects off the blood, a detection device configured to determine the viscosity of the blood using at least one Doppler parameter of a Doppler spectrum of the sound wave reflected off the blood, wherein the detection device is configured to determine the viscosity using a functional relationship between the Doppler Parameter and the viscosity; and a provisioning device configured to provide a viscosity signal representing the viscosity of the blood that is detected by the detection device. ### Claim 2 (depends on 1) The cardiac assist system of claim 1, wherein the detection device is configured to determine the viscosity using a lookup table. ### Claim 3 (depends on 2) The cardiac assist system of claim 2, wherein the lookup table comprises values characterizing a relationship between the Doppler parameter and the viscosity. ### Claim 4 (depends on 2) The cardiac assist system of claim 2, wherein the lookup table comprises an interpolation of a first viscosity and a second viscosity and wherein the detection device is configured to determine the viscosity using the interpolation of the first viscosity and the second viscosity. ### Claim 5 (depends on 1) The cardiac assist system of claim 1, wherein the detection device is configured to determine the viscosity using at least one cannula parameter (r) of the cannula. ### Claim 6 (depends on 1) The cardiac assist system of claim 1, wherein the flow device is arranged at the outlet interface. ### Claim 7 (depends on 1) The cardiac assist system of claim 1, wherein the detection device is configured to determine the viscosity using at least one flow parameter of a flow profile. ### Claim 8 (depends on 7) The cardiac assist system of claim 7, wherein the at least one flow parameter comprises a flow velocity (v) of the fluid through the cannula. ### Claim 9 (depends on 1) The cardiac assist system of claim 1, wherein the detection device is configured to determine the viscosity using the Doppler parameter and wherein the Doppler parameter comprises a Doppler frequency or a width of the Doppler spectrum. ### Claim 10 A method for analyzing a viscosity of blood in a bloodstream of a patient conveyed by a flow device through a cannula which is extended along an axis, the method comprising: generating a sound wave in the blood by an ultrasonic element, wherein the sound wave radiates through an inlet area of an inlet interface of the cannula and into the cannula along its axis and reflects off the blood; and determining the viscosity of the blood in the bloodstream using at least one Doppler parameter of a Doppler spectrum, wherein determining the viscosity comprises applying a functional relationship between the Doppler parameter and the viscosity. ### Claim 11 (depends on 10) The method of claim 10, wherein determining the viscosity comprises using a lookup table to determine the viscosity based on the Doppler parameter. ### Claim 12 (depends on 11) The method of claim 11, wherein the lookup table comprises values characterizing a relationship between the Doppler parameter and the viscosity. ### Claim 13 (depends on 11) The method of claim 11, wherein the lookup table comprises an interpolation of a first viscosity and a second viscosity and wherein the detection device is configured to determine the viscosity using the interpolation of the first viscosity and the second viscosity. ### Claim 14 (depends on 10) The method of claim 10, wherein determining the viscosity comprises using at least one cannula parameter (r) of the cannula. ### Claim 15 (depends on 10) The method of claim 10, wherein determining the viscosity comprises using at least one flow parameter of a flow profile. ### Claim 16 (depends on 15) The method of claim 15, wherein the at least one flow parameter comprises a flow velocity (v) of the fluid through the cannula. ### Claim 17 (depends on 10) The method of claim 10, wherein the at least one Doppler parameter comprises a Doppler frequency or a width of the Doppler spectrum. ### Claim 18 A cardiac assist system comprising: an inlet interface having inlet openings; an outlet interface having outlet openings; a flow machine comprising: an impeller coupled to an electric motor; a connection cable; and a cannula through which a blood flow can be conveyed by the flow machine from the inlet interface to the outlet interface, the cannula configured to extend along an axis across a patient's aortic valve and be coupled to the connection cable, wherein a tip of the cannula is located at a distal end of the cannula; and an analysis device configured to analyze a viscosity of blood in a blood flow of the patient, the analysis device comprising: an ultrasonic element arranged in the tip and configured to generate a sound wave in the blood, wherein the sound wave radiates through the inlet interface into the cannula along the axis and reflects off the blood, a detection device configured to determine the viscosity of the blood using at least one Doppler parameter of a Doppler spectrum of the sound wave reflected off the blood, wherein the detection device is configured to determine the viscosity using a lookup table; and a provisioning device configured to provide a viscosity signal representing the viscosity of the blood that is detected by the detection device. ### Claim 19 (depends on 18) The cardiac assist system of claim 18, wherein the lookup table comprises values characterizing a relationship between the Doppler parameter and the viscosity. ### Claim 20 (depends on 18) The cardiac assist system of claim 18, wherein the lookup table comprises an interpolation of a first viscosity and a second viscosity and wherein the detection device is configured to determine the viscosity using the interpolation of the first viscosity and the second viscosity. ### Claim 21 A cardiac assist system comprising: an inlet interface having inlet openings; an outlet interface having outlet openings; a flow machine comprising: an impeller coupled to an electric motor; a connection cable; and a cannula through which a blood flow can be conveyed by the flow machine from the inlet interface to the outlet interface, the cannula configured to extend along an axis across a patient's aortic valve and be coupled to the connection cable, wherein a tip of the cannula is located at a distal end of the cannula; and an analysis device configured to analyze a viscosity of blood in a blood flow of the patient, the analysis device comprising: an ultrasonic element arranged in the tip and configured to generate a sound wave in the blood, wherein the sound wave radiates through the inlet interface into the cannula along the axis and reflects off the blood, a detection device configured to determine the viscosity of the blood using at least one Doppler parameter of a Doppler spectrum of the sound wave reflected off the blood, wherein the detection device is configured to determine the viscosity using at least one cannula parameter (r) of the cannula; and a provisioning device configured to provide a viscosity signal representing the viscosity of the blood that is detected by the detection device. ### Claim 22 A cardiac assist system comprising: an inlet interface having inlet openings; an outlet interface having outlet openings; a flow machine comprising: an impeller coupled to an electric motor; a connection cable; and a cannula through which a blood flow can be conveyed by the flow machine from the inlet interface to the outlet interface, the cannula configured to extend along an axis across a patient's aortic valve and be coupled to the connection cable, wherein a tip of the cannula is located at a distal end of the cannula; and an analysis device configured to analyze a viscosity of blood in a blood flow of the patient, the analysis device comprising: an ultrasonic element arranged in the tip and configured to generate a sound wave in the blood, wherein the sound wave radiates through the inlet interface into the cannula along the axis and reflects off the blood, a detection device configured to determine the viscosity of the blood using at least one Doppler parameter of a Doppler spectrum of the sound wave reflected off the blood, wherein the detection device is configured to determine the viscosity using the Doppler parameter and wherein the Doppler parameter comprises a Doppler frequency or a width of the Doppler spectrum; and a provisioning device configured to provide a viscosity signal representing the viscosity of the blood that is detected by the detection device. ### Claim 23 A method for analyzing a viscosity of blood in a bloodstream of a patient conveyed by a flow device through a cannula which is extended along an axis, the method comprising: generating a sound wave in the blood by an ultrasonic element, wherein the sound wave radiates through an inlet area of an inlet interface of the cannula and into the cannula along its axis and reflects off the blood; and determining the viscosity of the blood in the bloodstream using at least one Doppler parameter of a Doppler spectrum, wherein determining the viscosity comprises using a lookup table to determine the viscosity based on the Doppler parameter. ### Claim 24 (depends on 21) The method of claim 21, wherein the lookup table comprises values characterizing a relationship between the Doppler parameter and the viscosity. ### Claim 25 (depends on 21) The method of claim 21, wherein the lookup table comprises an interpolation of a first viscosity and a second viscosity and wherein the detection device is configured to determine the viscosity using the interpolation of the first viscosity and the second viscosity. ### Claim 26 A method for analyzing a viscosity of blood in a bloodstream of a patient conveyed by a flow device through a cannula which is extended along an axis, the method comprising: generating a sound wave in the blood by an ultrasonic element, wherein the sound wave radiates through an inlet area of an inlet interface of the cannula and into the cannula along its axis and reflects off the blood; and determining the viscosity of the blood in the bloodstream using at least one Doppler parameter of a Doppler spectrum, wherein the at least one Doppler parameter comprises a Doppler frequency or a width of the Doppler spectrum.