System for actively supporting the flow of body fluids

Device for actively supporting the flow of body fluids, comprising

• an artificial flow guide system (10) with an operational area into which a pump (1) is embedded in such a way that it can transport body fluid from at least one inlet opening (3) situated in the guide system to at least one outlet opening (4) situated in the guide system;
• a flexible feed hose (5) connected to the flow guide system;
• a force transmission line (6) which is guided through the interior of the flexible feed hose and which, when the device is in the operational state, transmits force to the pump from a drive unit for the extra-corporeal generation of this force, the said force being transmitted with the aid of a ram which can be moved intermittently forward and backward in the axial direction and can be subjected to a rotational movement continuously or noncontinuously, simultaneously or nonsimultaneously.

Device according to one of the preceding claims, in which the lumen of the artificial flow guide system provided for the flow of blood is sealed off from the flexible feed hose.

Device according to one of the preceding claims, additionally comprising

• at least one balloon (8) which is arranged in the area of the artificial flow guide system, on the outside thereof, and which can be pressurized via a pressure generation line (11) likewise guided through the interior of the flexible feed hose.

Device according to one of the preceding claims, additionally comprising a guide wire which is arranged at the outlet end of the flow guide system, is easily deformable, but is rigid in the axial direction.

Device according to one of the preceding claims, in which the energy transmission is systemically separate from the pump.

Device according to one of the preceding claims, additionally comprising

• a member which is arranged proximal to the pump and which can convert the energy or force of the energy transmission line into mechanical force, this member being connected to the pump via a mechanical force transmission line.

Device according to one of the preceding claims, in which the pump is a continuously operating pump.

Device according to one of the preceding claims, in which the housing of the artificial flow guide system is designed, at least on the suction side of the pump, as netting or a cage.

Device according to one of the preceding claims, in which two or more pumps which can be coupled in parallel are arranged one after the other in the artificial flow guide system.

Device according to one of the preceding claims, in which the suction side of the pump is arranged distal to the flexible feed hose, and the artificial blood flow guide system is continued beyond the pump on the suction side, and the diameter of the flow guide system is smaller at least in part of the continuation than it is in the area of the pump.

Device according to one of the preceding claims, in which the artificial flow guide system is continued beyond the pump(s) on the delivery side, and the continuation is designed as a flexible outflow tubing.

Device according to one of the preceding claims, comprising

• an admission line for a drug-containing fluid, which admission line is likewise guided through the flexible feed hose and is in contact with the surrounding environment via at least one opening in the artificial blood flow guide system, or in a balloon arranged in the area of the artificial blood flow guide system.