Piezoelectric fluid pumping system for use in the human body
AssigneeBaylor College of Medicine
InventorsGeorge P. Noon, Louis W. Feldman, Paul I. Weiss, Michael E. DeBakey
Life of this patent
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Abstract
A totally or partially implantable fluid delivery system actuated by a valveless piezoelectric drive system. The drive system may actuate an artificial heart by a hydraulic bladder or directly actuate a human heart. The drive system has an output with a frequency and displacement sufficient to directly drive a human or artificial heart and includes a control circuit for recapturing and reusing the power driving the piezoelectric drive system. An artificial heart which includes two check valves having a flexible valve element and supporting tabs on opposite sides.
Claims18
An implantable blood pump comprising,
- an artificial heart,
- a hydraulic bladder connected to the exterior of the artificial heart for contracting and releasing the heart in response to hydraulic pressure,
- a hydraulic pump connected to the hydraulic bladder, and
- a valveless piezoelectric drive system connected to and driving the hydraulic pump, said system having a frequency in the range of 60 to 120 cycles per minute and providing a hydraulic flow rate of 8 liters per minute.
A fluid delivery system for use in the human body comprising,
- a hydraulic bladder,
- a hydraulic pump connected to the hydraulic bladder,
- a valveless piezoelectric drive system connected to and driving the hydraulic pump, and
- means in the drive system for recapturing and reusing the electric power driving the piezoelectric drive system.
An implantable blood pump comprising,
- an artificial heart having check valves, and
- a valveless piezoelectric drive system connected directly to the exterior of the heart, said system having a frequency in the range of 60 to 120 cycles per minute and providing an output sufficient to create a blood flow rate of 8 liters per minute.
An implantable pump for actuating a human heart comprising,
- a hydraulic bladder for surrounding the exterior of the heart for contracting and releasing the heart in response to hydraulic pressure,
- a hydraulic pump connected to the hydraulic bladder, and
- a valveless piezoelectric drive system connected to and driving the hydraulic pump, said system having a frequency in the range of 60 to 120 cycles per minute and providing a blood pumping flow rate of 8 liters per minute.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.