Electrohydraulic energy converter for cardiac assist devices and artificial hearts
OwnerKlaus Affeldinventor
Life of this patent
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Abstract
An apparatus for converting electric energy into pumping energy is disclosed. The apparatus is utilized to drive a cardiac assist device or an artificial heart. These devices are volume displacement blood pumps which require an alternating force or pressure for their pumping action. To generate this alternating pressure, a centrifugal pump driven by an electric motor pumps a hydraulic fluid which acts on the diaphragm of a blood pump. The alternating flow of the hydraulic transmitting fluid is generated by an axial shift of the impeller of the centrifugal pump.
Claims18
A system to convert electric energy into hydraulic energy of a transmitter fluid to actuate and control a diaphragm or flexible wall of a blood pump for use in a cardiac assist system or in a total artificial heart comprising:
- a continuously running radial centrifugal hydraulic pump with an impeller having inlets on both sides;
- first and second diffusor elements arranged back to back, said first diffusor element connected to and issuing into a housing of a first blood pump, and said second diffusor element connected to and issuing into either a displacement chamber, or a housing of a second blood pump, wherein said first and second diffusor elements circumferentially surround said impeller;
- a brushless electric motor mounted in fixed relationship to said first blood pump housing and having a stator and a rotor, said rotor being connected with the impeller of the centrifugal pump;
- and
- means for initiating axial movement of said rotor and said impeller.
A diaphragm or flexible wall blood pump comprising:
- a continuously running radial centrifugal hydraulic pump with an impeller having inlets on both sides;
- two diffusor elements arranged back to back, one connected to and issuing into a blood pump housing and the other connected to and issuing into a displacement chamber, wherein said diffusor elements circumferentially surround said impeller;
- a brushless electric motor mounted in fixed relationship to said blood pump housing and having a stator and a rotor, said rotor connected to said impeller;
- and
- an axial displacement mechanism located proximal to and initiating axial movement of said impeller.
A diaphragm or flexible wall blood pump comprising:
- a continuously running radial centrifugal hydraulic pump with an impeller having inlets on both sides;
- two diffusor elements arranged back to back and circumferentially surrounding said impeller, wherein each diffusor element is connected to and issues into separate blood pump housings;
- a brushless electric motor mounted in fixed relationship to said blood pump housings and having a stator and a rotor, said rotor connected to said impeller;
- and
- an axial displacement mechanism located proximal to and initiating axial movement of said impeller.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.