Left ventricular assist device and method for temporary and permanent procedures
OwnerJohn R. Arnoldinventor
Life of this patent
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Abstract
A left ventricular assist device and method is utilized to relieve the hemodynamic burden on a diseased left ventricle in the heart of a patient by inserting a shunt having an impellar for effectuating a substantially non-turbulent, non-traumatic flow of blood either from the left atrium or the patient's venous system, directly into the patient's arterial system. The impellar shunt may be utilized in either a temporary or permanent implant setting.
Claims21
A method for relieving the hemodynamic burden on a diseased left ventricle in the heart of a patient, comprising the steps of:
- implanting a shunt within the patient's chest cavity between the interior of the patient's left atrium and the patient's major arterial system;
- positioning an impeller in said shunt;
- implanting a power source within the patient's chest cavity;
- and
- actuating said impeller with the power source so as to effectuate a substantially non-turbulent, non-traumatic flow of blood from the left atrium directly into the patient's arterial system.
A method for relieving the hemodynamic burden on a diseased left ventricle in the heart of a patient, comprising the steps of:
- implanting a shunt between the interior of the patient's left atrium and the patient's major arterial system;
- positioning an impeller in said shunt;
- actuating said impeller so as to effectuate a substantially non-turbulent;
- non-traumatic flow of blood from the left atrium directly into the patient's arterial system;
- and
- varying the actuation rate of said impeller responsive to pressure in said left atrium.
A method for relieving the hemodynamic burden on a diseased left ventricle in the heart of a patient comprising the steps of:
- implanting a portable shunt within the patient's chest cavity between the patient's femoral vein and the patient's femoral artery;
- implanting a power source with the shunt;
- effectuating a substantially non-turbulent, non-traumatic flow of blood through said shunt;
- and
- oxygenating the blood passing through said shunt.
Apparatus for relieving the hemodynamic burden on a diseased left ventricle in the heart of a patient, comprising:
- a generally tubular shunt dimensioned to extend between the wall of the patient's left atrium and the patient's arterial system;
- means for permitting said shunt to be joined at one end to the patient's left atrium and the other end to the patient's arterial system;
- an impeller in said shunt;
- an implantable electrical power source for operating the impeller;
- and
- means responsive to the electrical power source about the periphery of said shunt for rotating said impeller to effectuate a flow of blood between the patient's left atrium and the patient's arterial system through said shunt when inserted.
Apparatus for relieving the hemodynamic burden on a diseased left ventricle in the heart of a patient, comprising:
- a generally tubular shunt dimensioned to extend between the wall of then patient's left atrium and the patient's arterial system;
- means for permitting said shunt to be joined at one end to the patient's left atrium and the other end to the patient's arterial system;
- an impeller in said shunt;
- means about the periphery of said shunt for rotating said impeller to effectuate a flow of blood between the patient's left atrium and the patient's arterial system through said shunt when inserted;
- pressure monitoring means for detecting the pressure in the patient's left atrium;
- and
- means for controlling the rotation of said impeller responsive to said pressure detection means.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.