US 4,046,137 AGranted

Solenoid operated blood pump drive system

AssigneeAvco Corporation

InventorsRichard W. Curless, Armando Federico

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Abstract

A solenoid operated drive system or actuating unit for driving blood pumps such as intra-arterial "balloon" pumps, implantable pulsatile pumps, external pumps and the like, wherein a shaft attached to the movable end of a bellows is caused to move back and forth by a pair of oppositely disposed solenoids. The extent of the excursion of the shaft and hence the movable end of the bellows is variably controlled by a first stopper fixedly attached to the frame and a second stopper fixedly attached to a carriage which is adjustably carried within the frame. The solenoids are alternately actuated and/or controlled by suitable control signals which are keyed to the heartbeat or R wave. At the beginning of each cycle for each solenoid and for a short time thereafter, depending on the cycle, a voltage is applied to provide maximum drive. At the end of the maximum drive portion, a reduced voltage is applied to provide a drive and/or holding force of lesser magnitude and is maintained until after the shaft has stopped moving. Thereafter, the reduced voltage is removed and/or current flow through the solenoid is prevented for a further period of time until the next cycle for this solenoid begins with the application of the high voltage. Adjustable noise reducing bumpers are provided to keep impact noises at a minimum and insure the maintenance of a fixed stopping point over extended periods of time.

Claims15

Dependent claims

In a system for assisting and/or providing blood flow in a living body comprising a blood pumping unit, a source of actuating fluid, and means for providing a synchronizing trigger signal for synchronizing the operation of said blood pumping unit with the pumping action of the heart, an actuating unit for periodically supplying operating fluid to actuate said blood pumping unit to produce an augmented stroke in synchronism with the diastolic period of the pumping action of the heart comprising:

a. a rigid frame member having an opening therein;
b. a carriage member movably disposed within said frame member opening;
c. a first solenoid carried by said frame member;
d. a second solenoid carried by said carriage member and oppositely disposed to said first solenoid;
e. bellows means carried by said frame member, said bellows means being adapted for connection to said source of actuating fluid and to supply actuating fluid to said blood pumping unit;
f. first and second movable plate members rigidly interconnected and operatively associated with said solenoids and bellows means whereby when current is sequentially supplied to said solenoids, said plates are magnetically attracted by said solenoids and said bellows means are actuated to vary the volumetric content thereof;
and
g. means adapted to be actuated by said trigger signal for applying a series of two voltages comprising a first voltage and then a second lower voltage alternately to said first and second solenoids, said second voltage in each case being applied upon termination of said first voltage whereby upon actuation by said trigger signal, said augmented stroke is produced in synchronism with the diastolic period of the pumping action of the heart.

5 more elements

a. a substantially rigid frame member having oppositely disposed first and second end portions and an opening intermediate said first and second end portions;
b. bellows means having a first end fixedly carried by said frame member first end portion and a second end movable toward and away from said first end to vary the volumetric content of said bellows means, said second end having a first exposed metal plate member fixedly carried thereby and said bellows means being adapted for connection to said source of actuating fluid and to supply actuating fluid to said blood pumping unit;
c. carriage member means movably disposed in said frame member opening, said carriage member means having an electrically actuated first solenoid fixedly attached thereto and disposed adjacent and facing said bellows means first metal plate member whereby said first plate member is attracted by said first solenoid when current is supplied to said first solenoid;
d. a second electrically actuated solenoid fixedly carried by and exterior of said frame member second end portion;
e. a second metal plate disposed adjacent and facing said second solenoid and exterior of said frame member whereby said second plate is attracted by said second solenoid when current is supplied to said second solenoid;
f. means for rigidly interconnecting said first and second plates;
g. means for selectably varying the position of said carriage member means between said first and second plate members;
and
h. means adapted to be actuated by said trigger signal for applying a series of two voltages comprising a first voltage and then a second lower voltage alternately to said first and second solenoids, said second voltage in each case being applied upon termination of said first voltage whereby upon actuation by said trigger signal, said augmented stroke is produced in synchronism with the diastolic period of the pumping action of the heart.

6 more elements

Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.

Facts

Application: 05/713,546Filed 11 Aug 1976
Granted: 6 Sep 1977
Term ends: Not estimatedThe source records don’t support an estimate.

Classification12 codes

H02K 33/12
Motors with reciprocating, oscillating or vibrating magnet, armature or coil system: with armatures moving in alternate directions by alternate…
A61M 60/104
Location thereof with respect to the patient's body: extracorporeal pumps, i.e. the blood being pumped outside the patient's body
A61M 60/139
Inside a blood vessel, e.g. using grafting: inside the aorta, e.g. intra-aortic balloon pumps
A61M 60/295
Type thereof: balloon pumps for circulatory assistance