Blood pump assembly having a sensor and a sensor shield
A blood pump assembly can include various components such as a housing and a sensor configured to detect one or more characteristics of the blood. In some embodiments, the sensor can be coupled to the housing and can include a sensor membrane configured to deflect in response to a change in a blood parameter (e.g., pressure). The blood pump assembly can include a shield that covers at least a portion of the sensor membrane so as to protect the sensor from damage when the blood pump assembly is inserted through an introducer and navigated through the patient's vasculature and/or when the blood pump assembly is inserted into the heart in a surgical procedure. One or more protective layers can be deposited over the sensor membrane to prevent the sensor membrane from being dissolved through interactions with the patient's blood.
1. A blood pump assembly comprising:
a blood pump housing component;
at least one input port and at least one outlet port; and
a sensor coupled to the blood pump housing component, the sensor including a sensor membrane configured to deflect in response to a change in a blood parameter, the sensor being coupled to a transmission fiber;
wherein the blood pump assembly includes a shield that covers at least a portion of the sensor membrane to protect the sensor from physical damage, and wherein the sensor membrane has a thickness of 2 microns or less.
2. The blood pump assembly of claim 1 , wherein the shield comprises a barrier bump positioned distal relative to the sensor membrane.
3. The blood pump assembly of claim 2 , further comprising a sensor visor to protect the sensor from physical damage, the sensor visor extending in a distal direction beyond the sensor membrane.
4. The blood pump assembly of claim 3 , wherein the sensor visor is attached to the barrier bump by adhesive or welding.
5. The blood pump assembly of claim 3 , wherein the sensor membrane is recessed in a proximal direction relative to the sensor visor.
6. The blood pump assembly of claim 3 , wherein the sensor visor extends into a visor notch formed in the barrier bump.
7. The blood pump assembly of claim 6 , further comprising a cap that covers the visor notch.
8. The blood pump assembly of claim 1 , wherein the shield includes at least one protective layer covering a surface of the sensor membrane.
9. The blood pump assembly of claim 1 , wherein the shield includes a blood aperture extending through the blood pump housing component and positioned distal relative to the sensor membrane for washing the sensor membrane with blood.
10. A blood pump assembly comprising:
a blood pump housing component; and
a cannula assembly coupled to the blood pump housing component;
a sensor coupled to the blood pump housing component, the sensor including a sensor membrane configured to deflect in response to a change in a blood parameter, the sensor being coupled to a transmission fiber;
a passive protective mechanism for protecting the sensor from damage when the blood pump assembly is inserted into a patient; and
one or more protective layers deposited on a surface of the sensor membrane facing toward a distal end of the blood pump assembly,
wherein the one or more protective layers comprise a material capable of preventing the sensor membrane from being dissolved by a chemical or biological reaction with blood and capable of being deposited as a gel and curing, and
wherein the one or more protective layers include a single layer deposited over the sensor membrane.
11. The blood pump assembly of claim 10 , wherein the one or more protective layers comprise a layer of silicone.
12. The blood pump assembly of claim 10 , wherein the one or more protective layers comprise a metal oxide.
13. The blood pump assembly of claim 10 , wherein the passive protective mechanism includes a barrier positioned distal to the sensor membrane.
14. The blood pump assembly of claim 13 , wherein the barrier protrudes from the blood pump housing component.
15. The blood pump assembly of claim 13 , wherein the barrier is composed of the same material as the blood pump housing component.
16. The blood pump assembly of claim 13 , wherein the barrier has a smooth outer surface which contacts the blood.
17. The blood pump assembly of claim 13 , wherein the barrier has a radial height approximately equal to or greater than a radial height of the sensor.
18. The blood pump assembly of claim 10 , wherein the sensor membrane has a thickness of 2 microns or less.
19. The blood pump assembly of claim 10 , wherein the sensor is positioned in a sensor bed in the blood pump housing component.
20. The blood pump assembly of claim 10 , wherein the sensor is an optical sensor that transmits optical signals.
21. The blood pump assembly of claim 10 , wherein the blood pump housing component has a substantially cylindrical and elongate shape.
22. A blood pump assembly comprising:
a blood pump housing component; and
a cannula assembly coupled to the blood pump housing component;
a sensor coupled to the blood pump housing component, the sensor including a sensor membrane having a thickness of 2 microns or less, the sensor membrane configured to deflect in response to a change in a blood parameter, the sensor being coupled to a transmission fiber;
a passive protective mechanism for protecting the sensor from damage when the blood pump assembly is inserted into a patient; and
one or more protective layers deposited on a surface of the sensor membrane facing toward a distal end of the blood pump assembly, wherein the one or more protective layers comprise a material capable of preventing the sensor membrane from being dissolved by a chemical or biological reaction with blood.
23. A blood pump assembly comprising:
a blood pump housing component; and
a cannula assembly coupled to the blood pump housing component;
a sensor coupled to the blood pump housing component, the sensor including a sensor membrane configured to deflect in response to a change in a blood parameter, the sensor being coupled to a transmission fiber;
a passive protective mechanism for protecting the sensor from damage when the blood pump assembly is inserted into a patient; and
one or more protective layers deposited on a surface of the sensor membrane facing toward a distal end of the blood pump assembly,
wherein the one or more protective layers comprise a metal oxide and a material capable of preventing the sensor membrane from being dissolved by a chemical or biological reaction with blood.