IP Library › Granted Patent US 12702821
Granted Patent B2
US 12702821 · App. 15/734,821 · Granted Aug 11, 2026

Implantable device for determining a fluid volume flow through a blood vessel

Inventors: Inga Schellenberg (Stuttgart, DE); Thomas Alexander Schlebusch (Renningen, DE); Tobias Schmid (Stuttgart, DE)
Assignee: Kardion GMBH
A61M60/546A61M60/17A61M60/178A61M60/216A61M60/523A61M60/859A61M60/861A61M60/878A61M2205/3375
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Quick Facts
Patent No.
US 12702821
App. No.
15/734,821
Granted
Aug 11, 2026
Kind
B2
Abstract

The invention relates to an implantable device ( 1 ) for determining a fluid volume flow ( 2 ) through a blood vessel ( 3 ), comprising: —at least one sensor ( 4 ) for recording at least one flow parameter, —a retaining means ( 5 ) for retaining a vessel wall port ( 6 ) in the region of a vessel wall ( 7 ) of the blood vessel ( 3 ), wherein the retaining means ( 5 ) is formed to retain the at least one sensor ( 4 ) in the region of the vessel wall ( 7 ).

Claims (30)

1 . A device for determining a blood volume flow through a blood vessel, comprising:

at least one sensor configured to detect at least one flow parameter of blood in the blood vessel, the blood vessel being in fluid communication with a pump of a cardiac assist system configured to be implanted in the blood vessel;

a cuff configured to at least partially encircle an exterior wall of the blood vessel and retain the at least one sensor in or on the exterior wall; and

a vessel wall port coupled to the cuff, the vessel wall port shaped to penetrate the exterior wall of the blood vessel to receive a portion of the cardiac assist system therethrough, wherein the cuff comprises at least one opening configured to receive the vessel wall port and retain the vessel wall port in a desired circumferential position in or on the exterior wall.

2 . The device according to claim 1 , wherein the at least one sensor comprises an ultrasonic element.

3 . The device according to claim 1 , wherein the at least one sensor is configured to perform a pulsed Doppler measurement.

4 . The device according to claim 1 , wherein the at least one sensor is configured to record a blood vessel cross-section of the blood vessel.

5 . The device according to claim 1 , wherein the at least one sensor comprises two ultrasonic elements.

6 . The device according to claim 5 , wherein the two ultrasonic elements are offset relative to one another in a flow direction of the blood in the blood vessel.

7 . The device according to claim 5 , wherein the two ultrasonic elements are arranged opposite each other and aligned facing each other.

8 . The device according to claim 1 , wherein the at least one sensor is configured to change a main beam direction of the at least one sensor.

9 . The device according to claim 1 , wherein the cuff is configured to position the vessel wall port to receive the portion of the cardiac assist system.

10 . The device according to claim 1 , wherein the vessel wall port comprises a feed-through for a cable of the cardiac assist system.

11 . The device according to claim 1 , wherein the vessel wall port comprises an opening for a bypass line of the cardiac assist system.

12 . A system comprising:

a cardiac assist system configured to be implanted within a blood vessel; and

a device configured to determine blood volume flow of blood within the blood vessel, the device comprising:

at least one sensor configured to detect at least one flow parameter of the blood in the blood vessel;

a cuff configured to at least partially encircle an exterior wall of the blood vessel and retain the at least one sensor in or on the exterior wall; and

a vessel wall port coupled to the cuff, the vessel wall port shaped to penetrate the exterior wall of the blood vessel to receive a portion of the cardiac assist system therethrough, wherein the cuff comprises at least one opening configured to receive the vessel wall port and retain the vessel wall port in a desired circumferential position in or on the exterior wall.

13 . The system according to claim 12 , wherein the cuff is configured to position the vessel wall port to receive the portion of the cardiac assist system.

14 . The system according to claim 12 , wherein the vessel wall port comprises a feed-through for a cable of the cardiac assist system.

15 . The system according to claim 12 , wherein the vessel wall port comprises an opening for a bypass line of the cardiac assist system.

16 . A method for determining a blood volume flow through a blood vessel having a cardiac assist system configured to be implanted therein, the method comprising:

performing a measurement with at least one sensor of a device, the device comprising:

a cuff configured to at least partially encircle an exterior wall of the blood vessel and retain the at least one sensor in or on the exterior wall; and

a vessel wall port coupled to the cuff, the vessel wall port shaped to penetrate the exterior wall of the blood vessel to receive a portion of the cardiac assist system therethrough, wherein the cuff comprises at least one opening configured to receive the vessel wall port and retain the vessel wall port in a desired circumferential position in or on the exterior wall; and

determining the blood volume flow based at least in part on the measurement.

17 . The method according to claim 16 , wherein the vessel wall port comprises a feed-through for a cable of the cardiac assist system.

18 . The method according to claim 16 , wherein the vessel wall port comprises an opening for a bypass line of the cardiac assist system.