Device to assist the performance of a heart
A device to assist the performance of a heart with at least one pump that is formed as a rotary pump and magnetically driven.
1. A heart assist pump device configured to be positioned within a patient's body and comprising:
a blood flow path comprising:
an inflow tube with a distal suction end configured to be inserted into a ventricle of a heart, wherein the inflow tube is substantially linear and comprises a central axis, wherein the distal suction end is aligned with the central axis;
a first chamber comprising one or more side walls and a substantially planar bottom wall having an inner surface that is located at a position that is axially opposite of the distal suction end, the first chamber in fluid communication with the inflow tube, wherein the first chamber is axially aligned with the distal suction end and with the central axis; and
a blood outflow path located downstream of the inflow tube and in fluid communication with the first chamber and with a blood vessel of the body, and configured to direct blood in at least one direction that is not axially aligned with the central axis;
a magnetic rotor assembly comprising a rotor and a first magnetic device, wherein the entire magnetic rotor assembly is located within the first chamber, wherein the first magnetic device is a single magnetic device that is axially adjacent to the rotor and rigidly coupled to the rotor;
a second magnetic device associated with, and sealed from, the magnetic rotor assembly and wherein the second magnetic device is configured to couple magnetically with the first magnetic device to rotate the magnetic rotor assembly, wherein the second magnetic device is a single magnetic device,
wherein the magnetic rotor assembly and the second magnetic device are axially aligned with the central axis and with the distal suction end of the inflow tube, and
wherein a magnetic coupling between the first magnetic device and the second magnetic device is configured to rotate the magnetic rotor assembly, and to orient the magnetic rotor assembly within the first chamber to control an axial position of the magnetic rotor assembly within the first chamber such that the magnetic rotor assembly is entirely spaced away from the one or more side walls of the first chamber by the magnetic coupling to define a gap between the one or more side walls of the first chamber and the magnetic rotor assembly, the gap configured for blood flow therethrough,
wherein the magnetic rotor assembly further comprises guide surfaces in fluid communication with the blood flowing through the blood flow path and the blood outflow path, the guide surfaces configured to produce centrifugal components within the blood within the first chamber during rotation of the magnetic rotor assembly,
wherein at least the guide surfaces of the magnetic rotor assembly are configured to drive the blood flow along the blood outflow path.
2. The heart assist pump device of claim 1 , further comprising a second chamber that surrounds the second magnetic device and comprises one or more walls that seal the second magnetic device from the magnetic rotor assembly.
3. The heart assist pump device of claim 1 , wherein the guide surfaces are spaced axially away from the inner surface of the substantially planar bottom wall.
4. The heart assist pump device of claim 3 , wherein the second magnetic device radially overlaps at least part of the first magnetic device and wherein the second magnetic device is axially closer to the first magnetic device than to the guide surfaces of the rotor.
5. The heart assist pump device of claim 1 , wherein at least part of the blood outflow path is configured to direct the blood driven by the guide surfaces in a direction that is substantially perpendicular to the central axis.
6. The heart assist pump device of claim 1 , wherein the guide surfaces are configured to drive the blood within the first chamber into the blood outflow path in a direction that is substantially perpendicular to the inflow tube and to the central axis.
7. The heart assist pump device of claim 1 , wherein the second magnetic device is spaced axially from the guide surfaces of the rotor.
8. The heart assist pump device of claim 1 , wherein the blood vessel is an artery.
9. The heart assist pump device of claim 1 , wherein the blood vessel is an aorta.
10. The heart assist pump device of claim 1 , wherein the ventricle is a left ventricle.
11. The heart assist pump device of claim 1 , further comprising a control arrangement comprising at least one sensor configured to generate a control signal, and a controller configured to receive the generated control signal.
12. The heart assist pump device of claim 11 , wherein the control arrangement is configured to control the heart assist pump device.
13. The heart assist pump device of claim 1 , wherein the magnetic coupling is configured to control a radial position of the magnetic rotor assembly within the first chamber such that the magnetic rotor assembly is entirely spaced apart from the one or more side walls of the first chamber.
14. A method for assisting the blood circulation of a heart in a body, comprising:
providing a heart assist device configured to be positioned within the body, comprising:
a blood flow path comprising:
an inflow tube with a distal suction end configured to be inserted into a left ventricle of a heart, wherein the inflow tube is substantially linear and comprises a central axis, wherein the distal suction end is aligned with the central axis;
a first chamber comprising one or more side walls and a substantially planar bottom wall having an inner surface that is located at a position that is axially opposite of the distal suction end, wherein the first chamber is in fluid communication with the inflow tube, and wherein the first chamber is axially aligned with the distal suction end and with the central axis; and
a blood outflow path located downstream of the inflow tube and in fluid communication with the first chamber and with an aorta of the body, and configured to direct blood in at least one direction that is not axially aligned with the central axis;
a magnetic rotor assembly comprising a rotor and a first magnetic device wherein the entire magnetic rotor assembly is located within the first chamber, and wherein the first magnetic device is a single magnetic device that is axially adjacent to the rotor and rigidly coupled to the rotor;
a second magnetic device associated with, and sealed from, the magnetic rotor assembly and wherein the second magnetic device is configured to magnetically couple with the first magnetic device to rotate the magnetic rotor assembly, wherein the second magnetic device is a single magnetic device,
wherein a magnetic coupling between the first magnetic device and the second magnetic device is further configured to orient and control an axial position of the magnetic rotor assembly within the first chamber relative to the one or more side walls of the first chamber,
wherein the magnetic rotor assembly and the second magnetic device are axially aligned with the distal suction end of the inflow tube and with the central axis;
a gap between the one or more side walls of the first chamber and the magnetic rotor assembly, the gap configured for blood flow therethrough,
wherein the magnetic rotor assembly comprises guide surfaces in fluid communication with the blood flowing through the blood flow path and the outflow blood path, the guide surfaces configured to produce centrifugal components within the blood within the first chamber during rotation of the magnetic rotor assembly,
wherein at least the guide surfaces of the magnetic rotor assembly are configured to drive the blood flow along the blood outflow path;
orienting an axial position of the magnetic rotor assembly within the first chamber via the magnetic coupling such that the magnetic rotor assembly remains entirely spaced away from the walls of the first chamber and such that the gap between the one or more side walls of the first chamber and the magnetic rotor assembly is defined;
positioning the heart assist pump device within the body;
inserting the suction end of the inflow tube into the left ventricle;
activating the heart assist pump device;
rotating the magnetic rotor assembly via the magnetic coupling;
maintaining the orienting of an axial position of the magnetic rotor assembly within the first chamber during the rotation of the magnetic rotor assembly;
suctioning the blood from the ventricle and into the inflow tube;
driving the blood through the blood outflow path; and
conveying the blood through the blood outflow path to the aorta.
15. The method of claim 14 , wherein the heart assist pump device further comprises a second chamber that surrounds the second magnetic device and comprises one or more walls that seal the second magnetic device from the magnetic rotor assembly.
16. The method of claim 14 , wherein the guide surfaces are spaced axially away from the inner surface of the substantially planar bottom wall.
17. The method of claim 16 , wherein the second magnetic device radially overlaps at least part of the first magnetic device and wherein the second magnetic device is axially closer to the first magnetic device than to the guide surfaces of the rotor.
18. The method of claim 14 , further comprising configuring at least part of the blood outflow path to direct the blood driven by the guide surfaces in a direction that is substantially perpendicular to the central axis.
19. The method of claim 14 , comprising configuring the guide surfaces to drive the blood within the first chamber into the blood outflow path in a direction that is substantially perpendicular to the inflow tube and to the central axis.
20. The method of claim 14 , wherein the heart assist pump device further comprises a control arrangement comprising at least one sensor configured to generate a control signal, and a controller configured to receive the generated control signal.
21. The method of claim 20 , controlling the heart assist pump device with the control arrangement.
22. A method for assisting the blood circulation of a heart in a body, comprising:
providing a heart assist device comprising:
a blood flow path comprising:
an inflow tube with a distal suction end configured to be inserted into a left ventricle of a heart, wherein the inflow tube is substantially linear and comprises a central axis, wherein the distal suction end is aligned with the central axis;
a first chamber comprising one or more walls and a substantially planar bottom wall having an inner surface that is located at a position that is axially opposite of the distal suction end, wherein the first chamber is in fluid communication with the inflow tube, and wherein the first chamber is axially aligned with the central axis and with the distal suction end; and
a blood outflow path located downstream of the inflow tube and in fluid communication with the first chamber and with an aorta of the body, and configured to direct blood in at least one direction that is not axially aligned with the central axis;
a magnetic rotor assembly comprising a rotor and a first magnetic device located within the first chamber, wherein the first magnetic device is a single magnetic device rigidly coupled to the rotor and wherein the entire magnetic rotor assembly is located within the first chamber, and wherein an axial position of the magnetic rotor assembly is oriented by the magnetic coupling to space the magnetic rotor assembly away from the one or more side walls of the first chamber;
a second magnetic device associated with, and sealed from, the magnetic rotor assembly and wherein the second magnetic device is configured to magnetically couple with the first magnetic device to rotate and orient the magnetic rotor assembly within the first chamber, wherein the second magnetic device is a single magnetic device,
wherein the magnetic rotor assembly and the second magnetic device are axially aligned with the distal suction end and the central axis;
a gap between the one or more side walls of the first chamber and the magnetic rotor assembly, the gap configured for blood flow therethrough, the gap defined by the spacing of the magnetic rotor assembly from the one or more side walls of the first chamber,
wherein the magnetic rotor assembly comprises guide surfaces in fluid communication with the blood flowing through the blood flow path and the outflow blood path, the guide surfaces configured to produce centrifugal components within the blood within the first chamber during rotation of the magnetic rotor assembly,
wherein the guide surfaces are spaced axially away from the inner surface of the substantially planar bottom wall,
wherein at least the guide surfaces of the magnetic rotor assembly are configured to drive the blood flow along the blood outflow path;
orienting an axial position of the magnetic rotor assembly via the magnetic coupling such that the magnetic rotor assembly remains entirely spaced away from the walls of the first chamber and such that the gap between the one or more side walls of the first chamber and the magnetic rotor assembly is defined;
positioning the heart assist pump device within the body;
inserting the suction end of the inflow tube into the left ventricle;
controlling an axial position of the magnetic rotor assembly within the first chamber;
activating the heart assist pump device;
rotating the magnetic rotor assembly via the magnetic coupling;
maintaining the orienting of the magnetic rotor assembly within the first chamber and maintaining the controlling of the axial position of the magnetic rotor assembly within the first chamber during the rotation of the magnetic rotor assembly;
suctioning the blood from the ventricle and into the inflow tube;
driving the blood through blood outflow path; and
conveying the blood through the blood outflow path to the aorta.
23. The method of claim 22 , wherein the heart assist pump device further comprises a second chamber that surrounds the second magnetic device and comprises one or more walls that seal the second magnetic device from the magnetic rotor assembly.
24. The method of claim 22 , wherein the second magnetic device radially overlaps at least part of the first magnetic device and wherein the second magnetic device is axially closer to the first magnetic device than to the guide surfaces of the rotor.
25. The method of claim 22 , further comprising configuring at least part of the blood outflow path to direct the blood driven by the guide surfaces in a direction that is substantially perpendicular to the central axis.
26. The method of claim 22 , comprising configuring the guide surfaces to drive the blood within the first chamber into the blood outflow path in a direction that is substantially perpendicular to the inflow tube and to the central axis.
27. The method of claim 22 , wherein the heart assist pump device further comprises a control arrangement comprising at least one sensor configured to generate a control signal, and a controller configured to receive the generated control signal.
28. The method of claim 27 , controlling the heart assist pump device with the control arrangement.