Implantable heart assist system and method of applying same

An intravascular extracardiac pumping system for supplementing blood circulation through a patient experiencing congestive heart failure without any component thereof being connected to the patient's heart, the extracardiac system comprising;

• a pump configured to pump blood through the patient at subcardiac volumetric rates, said pump having an average flow rate that, during normal operation thereof, is substantially below that of the patient's heart when healthy, the pump configured to be positioned within the vasculature of a patient;
• an inflow conduit fluidly coupled to the pump to direct blood to the pump, the inflow conduit configured to be positioned within the vasculature of the patient;
• and
• an outflow conduit fluidly coupled to the pump to direct blood away from the pump, the outflow conduit configured to be positioned within the vasculature of the patient;
• whereby the pump and the inflow and outflow conduits are configured so as to be inserted subcutaneously into the vasculature in an minimally-invasive procedure;
• and
• wherein the pump is a rotary pump.

An intravascular extracardiac pumping system for supplementing blood circulation through a patient experiencing congestive heart failure without any component thereof being connected to the patient's heart, the extracardiac system comprising:

• a pump configured to pump blood through the patient at subcardiac volumetric rates, said pump having an average flow rate that, during normal operation thereof, is substantially below that of the patient's heart when healthy, the pump configured to be positioned within the vasculature of a patient;
• an inflow conduit fluidly coupled to tile pump to direct blood to the pump, the inflow conduit configured to be positioned within the vasculature of the patient;
• and
• an outflow conduit fluidly coupled to the pump to direct blood away from the pump, the outflow conduit configured to be positioned within the vasculature of the patient;
• whereby the pump and the inflow and outflow conduits are configured so as to be inserted subcutaneously into the vasculature in an minimally-invasive procedure;
• and
• wherein the pump is configured to operate in pulsatile fashion.

An intravascular extracardiac pumping system for supplementing blood circulation through a patient experiencing congestive heart failure without any component thereof being connected to the patient's heart, the extracardiac system comprising:

• a pump configured to pump blood through the patient at subcardiac volumetric rates, said pump having an average flow rate that, during normal operation thereof, is substantially below that of the patient's heart when healthy, the pump configured to be positioned within the vasculature of a patient;
• an inflow conduit fluidly coupled to the pump to direct blood to the pump, the inflow conduit configured to be positioned within the vasculature of the patient;
• and
• an outflow conduit fluidly coupled to the pump to direct blood away from the pump, the outflow conduit configured to be positioned within the vasculature of the patient;
• whereby the pump and the inflow and outflow conduits are configured so as to be inserted subcutaneously into the vasculature in an minimally-invasive procedure;
• and
• wherein the pump comprises a rotatable cable having means for directing blood axially along the cable.

An intravascular extracardiac pumping system for supplementing blood circulation through a patient experiencing congestive heart failure without any component thereof being connected to the patient's heart, the extracardiac system comprising:

• a pump configured to pump blood through the patient at subcardiac volumetric rates, said pump having an average flow rate that, during normal operation thereof, is substantially below that of the patient's heart when healthy, the pump configured to be positioned within the vasculature of a patient;
• an inflow conduit fluidly coupled to the pump to direct blood to the pump, the inflow conduit configured to be positioned within the vasculature of the patient;
• and
• an outflow conduit fluidly coupled to the pump to direct blood away from the pump, the outflow conduit configured to be positioned within the vasculature of the patient;
• whereby the pump and the inflow and outflow conduits are configured so as to be inserted subcutaneously into the vasculature in an minimally-invasive procedure;
• and
• wherein the pump comprises an archemedes screw.

An intravascular extracardiac pumping system for supplementing blood circulation through a patient experiencing congestive heart failure without any component thereof being connected to the patient's heart, the extracardiac system comprising:

• a pump configured to pump blood through the patient at subcardiac volumetric rates, said pump having an average flow rate that, during normal operation thereof, is substantially below that of the patient's heart when healthy, the pump configured to be positioned within the vasculature of a patient;
• an inflow conduit fluidly coupled to the pump to direct blood to the pump, the inflow conduit configured to be positioned within the vasculature of the patient;
• an outflow conduit fluidly coupled to the pump to direct blood away from the pump, the outflow conduit configured to be positioned within the vasculature of the patient;
• and
• an additional conduit positioned proximate the pump to provide an additional flow path to blood in the vasculature from a point upstream of the inflow conduit to a point downstream of the outflow conduit without passing through the pump
• whereby the pump and the inflow and outflow conduits are configured so as to be inserted subcutaneously into the vasculature in an minimally-invasive procedure.

An intravascular extracardiac pumping system for supplementing blood circulation through a patient experiencing congestive heart failure without any component thereof being connected to the patient's heart, the extracardiac system comprising:

• a pump configured to pump blood through the patient at subcardiac volumetric rates, said pump having an average flow rate that, during normal operation thereof, is substantially below that of the patient's heart when healthy, the pump configured to be positioned within the vasculature of a patient;
• an inflow conduit fluidly coupled to the pump to direct blood to the pump, the inflow conduit configured to be positioned within the vasculature of the patient;
• an outflow conduit fluidly coupled to the pump to direct blood away from the pump, the outflow conduit configured to be positioned within the vasculature of the patient;
• and
• an additional conduit positioned proximate the pump to provide an additional flow path to blood in the vasculature from a point upstream of an inflow to the pump to a point downstream of an outflow from the pump without passing through the pump;
• whereby the pump and the inflow and outflow conduits are configured so as to be inserted subcutaneously into the vasculature in an minimally-invasive procedure.

An intravascular extracardiac pumping system for supplementing blood circulation through a patient experiencing congestive heart failure without any component thereof being connected to the patient's heart, the extracardiac system comprising:

• a pump configured to pump blood through the patient at subcardiac volumetric rates, said pump having an avenge flow rate that, during normal operation thereof, is substantially below that of the patient's heart when healthy, the pump configured to be positioned within the vasculature of a patient;
• an inflow conduit fluidly coupled to the pump to direct blood to the pump, the inflow conduit configured to be positioned within the vasculature of the patient;
• and
• an outflow conduit fluidly coupled to the pump to direct blood away from the pump, the outflow conduit configured to be positioned within the vasculature of the patient;
• and
• a pump driving means;
• whereby the pump and the inflow and outflow conduits are configured so as to be inserted subcutaneously into the vasculature in an minimally-invasive procedure.

An intravascular extracardiac pumping system for supplementing blood circulation through a patient experiencing congestive heart failure without any component thereof being connected to the patient's heart, the extracardiac system comprising:

• a means for pumping blood;
• and
• a conduit that houses the pumping means and is configured to direct blood from a location upstream of the pumping means to a location downstream of the pumping means;
• whereby the pumping means and the conduit are configured to be insertable into a non-primary vessel subcutaneously in an minimally-invasive procedure for positioning within the patient's vasculature;
• and
• wherein the pumping means comprises a rotary pump.

An intravascular extracardiac pumping system for supplementing blood circulation through a patient experiencing congestive heart failure without any component thereof being connected to the patient's heart, the extracardiac system comprising:

• a means for pumping blood;
• and
• a conduit that houses the pumping means and is configured to direct blood from a location upstream of the pumping means to a location downstream of the pumping means;
• whereby the pumping means and the conduit are configured to be insertable into a non-primary vessel subcutaneously in an minimally-invasive procedure for positioning within the patient's vasculature;
• wherein the pumping means comprises an impeller that is driven electromagnetically by a discrete electromagnetic drive;
• and
• wherein the electromagnetic drive is sized and configured to be implantable.

An intravascular extracardiac pumping system for supplementing blood circulation through a patient experiencing congestive heart failure without any component thereof being connected to the patient's heart, the extracardiac system comprising:

• a means for pumping blood;
• and
• a conduit that houses the pumping means and is configured to direct blood from a location upstream of the pumping means to a location downstream of the pumping means;
• whereby the pumping means and the conduit are configured to be insertable into a non-primary vessel subcutaneously in an minimally-invasive procedure for positioning within the patient's vasculature;
• and
• wherein the pumping means comprises a worm pump.

An intravascular extracardiac pumping system for supplementing blood circulation through a patient experiencing congestive heart failure without any component thereof being connected to the patient's heart, the extracardiac system comprising:

• a means for pumping blood;
• and
• a conduit that houses the pumping means and is configured to direct blood from a location upstream of the pumping means to a location downstream of the pumping means;
• an additional conduit positioned proximate the pumping means to provide an additional flow path to blood in the vasculature from a point upstream of an inflow to the pumping means to a point downstream of an outflow from the pumping means without passing through the pump;
• and
• whereby the pumping means and the conduit are configured to be insertable into a non-primary vessel subcutaneously in an minimally-invasive procedure for positioning within the patient's vasculature.

An intravascular extracardiac pumping system for supplementing blood circulation through a patient experiencing congestive heart failure without any component thereof being connected to the patient's heart, the extracardiac system comprising:

• a means for pumping blood;
• and
• a conduit that houses the pumping means and is configured to direct blood from a location upstream of the pumping means to a location downstream of the pumping means;
• a second outlet conduit;
• and
• whereby the pumping means and the conduit are configured to be insertable into a non-primary vessel subcutaneously in an minimally-invasive procedure for positioning within the patient's vasculature.

A method for supplementing the circulation of blood trough a patient without connecting any component to the patient's heart, the method comprising the steps of:

• providing a parallel flow system comprising a means for pumping blood and a conduit that houses the pump means;
• inserting the pump means and the conduit into the patient's vasculature in a non-primary vessel subcutaneously in an minimally-invasive procedure;
• positioning the parallel flow system within the vasculature;
• and
• operating said pump means to direct blood through the conduit;
• wherein the pumping means comprises a rotary pump.

A method for supplementing the circulation of blood through a patient without connecting any component to the patient's heart, the method comprising the steps of:

• providing a parallel flow system comprising a means for pumping blood and a conduit that houses the pump means;
• inserting the pump means and the conduit into the patient's vasculature in a non-primary vessel subcutaneously in an minimally-invasive procedure;
• positioning the parallel flow system within the vasculature;
• and
• operating said pump means to direct blood through the conduit;
• wherein the pumping means comprises an impeller;
• and
• wherein the impeller is helically shaped.

A method for supplementing the circulation of blood through a patient without connecting any component to the patient's heart, the method comprising the steps of:

• providing a parallel flow system comprising a means for pumping blood and a conduit that houses the pump means;
• inserting the pump means and the conduit into the patient's vasculature in a non-primary vessel subcutaneously in an minimally-invasive procedure;
• positioning the parallel flow system within the vasculature;
• and
• operating said pump means to direct blood through the conduit;
• wherein the pumping means comprises an impeller;
• wherein the impeller is driven electromagnetically by a discrete electromagnetic drive;
• and
• wherein the electromagnetic drive is sized and configured to be implantable.

A method for supplementing the circulation of blood through a patient without connecting any component to the patient's heart, the method comprising the steps of:

• providing a parallel flow system comprising a means for pumping blood and a conduit that houses the pump means;
• inserting the pump means and the conduit into the patient's vasculature in a non-primary vessel subcutaneously in an minimally-invasive procedure;
• positioning the parallel flow system within the vasculature;
• and
• operating said pump means to direct blood through the conduit;
• wherein the pumping means comprises a worm pump.

A method for supplementing the circulation of blood through a patient without connecting any component to the patient's heart, the method comprising the steps of:

• providing a parallel flow system comprising a means for pumping blood and a conduit that houses the pump means;
• providing an additional conduit positioned proximate the pumping means to provide an additional flow path to blood in the vasculature from a point upstream of an inflow to the pumping means to a point downstream of an outflow from the pumping means without passing through the pump;
• inserting the pump means and the conduit into the patient's vasculature in a non-primary vessel subcutaneously in an minimally-invasive procedure;
• positioning the parallel flow system within the vasculature;
• and operating said pump means to direct blood through the conduit.