Centrifugal blood pump apparatus
OwnerLorant Nagyszalanczy, Kurt H. Wieland +3inventors
InventorsLorant Nagyszalanczy, Kurt H. Wieland, Dan Lemay, Norman E. Spicer, Jack Sternlieb
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
A centrifugal impeller-type pump for transporting blood has a new and improved design in the impeller, to allow for the elimination of stagnant flow areas, and a geometrical design that minimizes damage to the blood components. A system for controlling and stabilizing the speed of centrifugal-type pumps used in a human cardiovascular system is also provided. Further provided are methods of corrosion protection and enhancing thromboresistance, rejection of waste heat, and methods to connect the artificial heart to the cardiovascular system as a Left Ventricle Assist Device (LVAD) and as a Total Artificial Heart (TAH).
Claims23
A dual pump artificial heart blood pump apparatus for use in a mammalian cardiovascular system comprising:
- a first pump, having an input and an output connectable to said cardiovascular system;
- means for sensing pressure at the output of said first pump;
- means for sensing pressure at the input of said first pump;
- means for sensing flow rate through said first pump;
- a second pump, having an input and an output connectable to said cardiovascular system;
- means for sensing pressure at the output of said second pump;
- means for sensing pressure at the input of said second pump;
- means for sensing flow rate through said second pump;
- and
- means for controlling the speed of said first and second pumps based on the pressures and flow rates detected by said sensing means.
A method of controlling dual centrifugal blood pumps operating as a heart blood pump, with a first centrifugal blood pump having an inlet connected to a cardiovascular system for receiving blood from the cardiovascular system and providing output to a respiratory system, and a second centrifugal blood pump having an inlet connected to the respiratory system to receive blood from the respiratory system and connected to deliver output to the cardiovascular system, the method comprising the steps of:
- measuring a first pressure at the inlet of the first centrifugal blood pump and generating a first pressure signal indicative of said first pressure;
- controlling the speed of operation of said second centrifugal blood pump responsive to said first pressure signal;
- measuring a second pressure at the inlet of the second centrifugal blood pump and generating a second pressure signal indicative of said second pressure;
- and
- controlling the speed of operation of said first centrifugal blood pump responsive to said second pressure signal.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.