IP Library › Patent Application 18909116
Patent Application
App. No. 18/909,116

DEVICE TO ASSIST THE PERFORMANCE OF A HEART

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Quick Facts
Patent No.
US None
App. No.
18/909,116
Abstract

A device to assist the performance of a heart with at least one pump that is formed as a rotary pump and magnetically driven.

Claims (56)

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 at least a portion of the inflow tube is substantially linear and comprises a 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 at least a portion of the inflow tube comprising the central axis, the first chamber located downstream of, and in fluid communication with, the inflow tube, wherein the first chamber is axially aligned 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 located within the first chamber;

a second magnetic device associated with, and sealed from, the magnetic rotor assembly and configured to rotate the magnetic rotor assembly by a magneto coupling with the magnetic rotor assembly,

wherein the magnetic rotor assembly and the second magnetic device are axially aligned with the central axis and wherein an axial and/or a radial position of the magnetic rotor assembly is magnetically controlled relative to the second magnetic device;

a gap between a side wall of the first chamber and the magnetic rotor assembly, the gap axially aligned with the central axis and configured for blood flow therethrough,

wherein the gap comprises an inner diameter that is smaller than an inner diameter of the inflow tube; and

guide surfaces on the magnetic rotor assembly in fluid communication with the blood flowing through the defined blood flow path, the guide surfaces configured to produce centrifugal components within the blood 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 1 , 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 the blood outflow path is configured to direct the blood driven by the guide surfaces in a direction that is at least one angle from the central axis.

6 . 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.

7 . The heart assist pump device of claim 1 , wherein the guide surfaces are configured to drive the blood within the first chamber in a direction that is substantially perpendicular to the inflow tube and to the central axis.

8 . The heart assist pump device of claim 1 , wherein the second magnetic device is spaced axially from the guide surfaces of the rotor.

9 . The heart assist pump device of claim 1 , wherein the blood vessel is an artery.

10 . The heart assist pump device of claim 1 , wherein the blood vessel is an aorta.

11 . The heart assist pump device of claim 1 , wherein the ventricle is a left ventricle.

12 . 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.

13 . The heart assist pump device of claim 12 , wherein the control arrangement is configured to control the heart assist pump device.

14 . The heart assist pump device of claim 1 , wherein the magneto coupling is configured to control an axial and/or a radial position of the magnetic rotor assembly relative to the second magnetic device.

15 . The heart assist pump device of claim 1 , wherein an axial and/or radial position of the magnetic rotor assembly relative to the second magnetic device is passively controlled.

16 . 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 at least a portion of the inflow tube is substantially linear and comprises a 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 at least a portion of the inflow tube comprising the central axis, the first chamber located downstream of, and in fluid communication with, the inflow tube, wherein the first chamber is axially aligned 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 located within the first chamber;

a second magnetic device associated with, and sealed from, the magnetic rotor assembly and configured to rotate the magnetic rotor assembly by a magneto coupling with the magnetic rotor assembly,

wherein the magnetic rotor assembly and the second magnetic device are axially aligned with the central axis;

a gap between a side wall of the first chamber and the magnetic rotor assembly, the gap axially aligned with the central axis and configured for blood flow therethrough,

wherein the gap comprises an inner diameter that is smaller than an inner diameter of the inflow tube;

guide surfaces on the magnetic rotor assembly in fluid communication with the blood flowing through the defined blood flow path, the guide surfaces configured to produce centrifugal components within the blood 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;

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 magneto coupling;

magnetically controlling an axial position and/or a radial position of the magnetic rotor assembly relative to the second magnetic device;

suctioning the blood from the ventricle and into the inflow tube;

driving the blood through outflow port; and

returning the blood to the aorta.

17 . The method of claim 16 , 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.

18 . The method of claim 16 , wherein the second magnetic device is axially closer to the first magnetic device than to the guide surfaces of the rotor.

19 . The method of claim 16 , further comprising configuring the blood outflow path to direct the blood driven by the guide surfaces in a direction that is at least one angle from the central axis.

20 . The method of claim 16 , 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.

21 . The method of claim 16 , comprising configuring the guide surfaces to drive the blood within the first chamber in a direction that is substantially perpendicular to the inflow tube and to the central axis.

22 . The method of claim 16 , 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.

23 . The method of claim 22 , controlling the heart assist pump device with the control arrangement.

24 . The method of claim 16 , further comprising passively controlling an axial position and/or a radial position of the magnetic rotor assembly relative to the second magnetic device.