Devices and methods for blood flow assistance
AssigneeBay Innovation Group, LLC
InventorsJerome B. Riebman, Kevin L. Ohashi
Life of this patent
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Abstract
Devices and methods are disclosed for assisting in blood flow from a weakened or injured heart, particularly for pediatric patients. A low profile, multi-chambered implantable mechanism is used to collect blood from a blood vessel and re-pump the blood out with an induced pressure emanating from a fluid pressure source. The devices and methods described herein are easy to use and may be attachable to body tissue without use of suture anastomosis.
Claims47
A low-profile implantable device for promoting blood flow, the device comprising:
- a low-profile, non-rigid housing;
- a blood chamber within the housing having a blood chamber port, the blood chamber being adapted to communicate with a source of blood;
- a fluid chamber within the housing having a fluid chamber port, the fluid chamber being in communication with a source of fluid pressure;
- and
- a flexible membrane separating a portion of the blood chamber from a portion of the fluid chamber;
- wherein when fluid enters the fluid chamber through the fluid chamber port, the flexible membrane moves further into the blood chamber causing any blood therein to flow out of the blood chamber through the blood chamber port;
- and
- wherein when fluid exits the fluid chamber through the fluid chamber port, the flexible membrane moves further into the fluid chamber causing blood to flow into the blood chamber through the blood chamber port.
A low-profile implantable device for promoting blood flow, the device comprising:
- means for housing, wherein the means for housing is non-rigid;
- means for storing blood within the means for housing, the means for storing blood being adapted to communicate with a source of blood;
- means for storing fluid within the means for housing, the means for storing fluid being in communication with a source of fluid pressure;
- and
- means for controlling blood and fluid storage, the means for controlling blood and fluid storage being in communication with both the means for storing blood and the means for storing fluid;
- wherein when fluid enters the means for storing fluid, the means for controlling blood and fluid storage causes blood to flow out the means for storing blood;
- and
- wherein when fluid exits the means for storing fluid, the means for controlling blood and fluid storage causes blood to flow into the means for storing blood.
A method of promoting blood flow, the method comprising:
- providing a low-profile, non-rigid housing;
- providing a blood chamber within the housing having a blood chamber port, the blood chamber being adapted to communicate with a source of blood;
- providing a fluid chamber within the housing having a fluid chamber port, the fluid chamber being in communication with a source of fluid pressure;
- providing a flexible membrane separating a portion of the blood chamber from a portion of the fluid chamber;
- flowing fluid into the fluid chamber through the fluid chamber port;
- causing movement of the flexible membrane into the blood chamber;
- and
- flowing blood out of the blood chamber through the blood chamber port.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.