Active or passive assistance in the circulatory system
AssigneeIndiana University and Technology Corporation
InventorsMark D. Rodefeld, Steven H. Frankel
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
Apparatus and methods for assisting flow of a fluid in a conduit. In some embodiments, a viscous impeller rotating within a protective cage provides a boost and total pressure to blood within the circulatory system of an animal.
Claims50
A method for pumping blood in the circulatory system of an animal, comprising:
- providing a pumping element having a pumping surface that is a body of revolution about an axis, the pumping element having distal and proximal ends along the axis, the body having a maximum diameter intermediate of the distal and proximal ends;
- positioning the pumping element at a junction of at least two pathways in the circulatory system, the axis being generally aligned with a first pathway;
- rotating the positioned pumping element;
- inducing flow of blood from the first pathway toward the pumping element by said rotating;
- and
- centrifuging flow of blood from the pumping element into the second pathway by said rotating.
4-5. (canceled)
(canceled)
10-14. (canceled)
The method of claim 14 wherein the first pathway provides flow from two generally opposite directions toward the junction.
A method for assisting the heart of a patient, comprising:
- providing a rotatable pump percutaneously insertable into the patient connecting the superior vena cava of the patient to the pulmonary artery of the patient;
- placing the pump at the junction of the SVC and PA;
- and
- rotating the pump to increase the energy of the blood in the PA.
(canceled)
22-23. (canceled)
An apparatus for pumping blood in an animal, comprising:
- an outer cage movable from a substantially cylindrical stowed position to a deployed position and having a midsection that is substantially open to flow of blood in the deployed position;
- a pumping element rotatable within said outer cage, said pumping element movable from a stowed position to a deployed position, said pumping element including a circumferentially-continuous flexible outer member supported by an inner cage in the deployed position, said pumping element having a distal end, a proximal end, and a deployed midsection of greatest diameter intermediate of the distal and proximal ends and
- wherein rotation of said deployed pumping element provides flow of blood radially outward from the midsection of said pumping element and through the midsection of said outer cage.
(canceled)
31-35. (canceled)
39-43. (canceled)
An apparatus for pumping blood in an animal, comprising:
- an outer tube fabricated from a bio-compatible material and having a central axis, said outer tube having a first wall including a first region having a plurality of longitudinally-extending first slots, each pair of slots defining a first filament therebetween, the first region capable repeated movement from a generally cylindrical shape in a stowed position to a first bulging shape in a deployed position upon application of an axial load on said outer tube;
- and
- an inner tube fabricated from a bio-compatible material, said inner tube having a second wall and fitting within said outer tube, the second wall including a second region capable of repeated movement from a generally cylindrical shape in a stowed position to a second bulging shape in a deployed position upon application of an axial load on said inner tube, the second bulging shape having a maximum diameter smaller than the maximum diameter of the first bulging shape;
- wherein the bulged inner tube rotates within the bulged outer tube.
47-51. (canceled)
(canceled)
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60-62. (canceled)
An apparatus for pumping blood in the pathways of an animal, comprising:
- means for centrifugally flowing blood toward a first pathway;
- means for axially flowing blood within a second pathway and toward said centrifugal means;
- and
- means for protectively containing said centrifugal means and said axial means within a junction of the first pathway and the second pathway;
- wherein blood flowing from said centrifugal means passes through said protective means into the first pathway.
A method for assisting the circulatory system of an animal, comprising:
- providing a flow stabilizing element having a continuous surface that is a body of revolution about an axis, the element having distal and proximal ends along the axis and a maximum diameter intermediate of the distal and proximal ends, the element being movable from a stowed shape suitable for percutaneous insertion and movement within the circulatory system to a deployed shape;
- positioning the stowed element at a junction of at least two pathways in the circulatory system, the axis being generally aligned to receive blood flow from a first pathway and toward one end of the element;
- deploying the element to the deployed shape and
- directing flow along the surface from the one end to the maximum diameter and toward the second pathway.
The apparatus of claim 61 wherein rotation of said centrifugal flow means induces flow toward said centrifugal flow means from said axial flow means in two opposing axial directions.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.