Thrombus detection and removal using a flexible electronic sensor and emitter
AssigneeHeartWare, Inc.
InventorFernando CASAS
Life of this patent
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Abstract
A system for thrombus detection and removal from a blood pump including a housing having an inlet cannula including an inner tube, a rotor disposed within the housing, the rotor being in fluid communication with the inlet cannula, and a stator disposed within the housing. The stator may be configured to rotate the rotor when a current is applied to the stator. A flexible circuit assembly may also be disposed within the housing including at least one of the group consisting of a plurality of light emitters and a plurality of ultrasound emitters.
Claims20
A system for thrombus detection and removal from a blood pump comprising:
- a housing including an inlet cannula, the inlet cannula having an inner tube;
- a rotor disposed within the housing, the rotor being in fluid communication with the inlet cannula;
- a stator disposed within the housing, the stator configured to rotate the rotor when a current is applied to the stator;
- and
- a flexible circuit assembly disposed within the housing, the flexible circuit assembly including at least one of the group consisting of a plurality of light emitters and a plurality of ultrasound emitters.
A method for detecting and removing a thrombus within a blood pump comprising:
- activating a plurality of light emitters disposed within a blood pump to shine a light onto at least one from the group consisting of a rotor and a portion of blood within the blood pump, the light defining a light path;
- detecting and observing the light path using a plurality of light detectors in communication with the plurality of light emitters;
- and
- analyzing the light path to determine a thrombus within the portion of blood.
A system for thrombus detection and removal from a blood pump comprising:
- a housing including an inlet cannula, the inlet cannula having an inner tube;
- a rotor disposed within the housing, the rotor being in fluid communication with the inlet cannula and the inner tube;
- a stator disposed within the housing, the stator configured to rotate the rotor when a current is applied to the stator;
- and
- a flexible circuit assembly including at least one of the group consisting of a plurality of light emitters and a plurality of ultrasound emitters substantially surrounding the inner tube.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.