Surgically implantable pump arrangement and method for pumping body fluids

A method for pumping fluids in a human body comprising the steps of:

• providing a surgically implantable reciprocating pump comprising a hollow cylinder with an inlet end and an outlet end, an array of coil windings supported in axially spaced relation by the hollow cylinder, means for sequentially energizing the coil windings, a piston-valve assembly slidably positioned within the hollow cylinder for longitudinal movement in response to sequential energization of the coil windings, the piston-valve assembly comprising a diametral support ring and at least two valve leaflets supported for pivotal motion inside the diametral support ring to cycle open and close in response to relative motion with respect to a fluid, and a permanent magnet arrangement having axially spaced magnet poles producing radially directed magnetic flux which cooperates with the sequentially energized coil windings and fixedly attached to the piston-valve for movement therewith;
• placing the piston-valve assembly at a first end of the hollow cylinder;
• introducing fluid into the hollow cylinder;
• sequentially energizing the coil windings to drive the piston-valve assembly to a second end of the hollow cylinder whereby a force created by movement of the piston-valve through the fluid causes the valve leaflets to close, preventing fluid flow through the piston-valve and causing fluid to be ejected from the second end of the hollow cylinder;
• and
• sequentially energizing the coil windings in the opposite direction to drive the piston-valve to the first end of the hollow cylinder whereby a force created by movement of the piston-valve through the fluid causes the valve leaflets to open, the sequential energization of the coil windings causing the piston to be drawn toward the energized windings when the piston is approached by the pattern of sequentially energized windings from either direction.

A method for pumping fluids in a human body comprising the steps of:

• providing a surgically implantable reciprocating pump comprising a hollow cylinder with an inlet end and an outlet end, an array of coil windings supported in axially spaced relation by the hollow cylinder having a single valve, a piston-valve assembly including the single valve and slidably positioned within the cylinder for longitudinal movement in response to sequential energization of the coil windings, and a permanent magnet arrangement having axially spaced magnet poles fixedly attached to the piston-valve assembly for movement therewith;
• placing the piston-valve assembly at a first end of the hollow cylinder;
• introducing fluid into the hollow cylinder;
• sequentially energizing the coil windings to drive the piston-valve assembly to a second end of the hollow cylinder whereby a force created by movement of the piston-valve assembly through the fluid causes the valve to close, preventing fluid flow through the valve and causing fluid to be ejected from the second end of the hollow cylinder;
• and
• sequentially energizing the coil windings in the opposite direction to drive the piston-valve assembly to the first end of the hollow cylinder whereby a force created by movement of the piston-valve assembly through the fluid causes the valve to open, the sequential energization of the coil windings being arranged to cause the piston-valve assembly to be drawn toward the energized windings when the piston-valve assembly is approached by the pattern of sequentially energized windings from either direction.