DEVICE TO ASSIST THE PERFORMANCE OF A HEART

Abstract

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

Description

BACKGROUND

After a heart failure, for example a cardiac infarction or other reasons for the decrease in the performance of a heart, it is of essential importance for intensive care medicine to normalise and stabilise the cardiac function again as rapidly as possible. When for example the volume output of the heart is distinctly reduced as a result of a failure, it is particularly important to reliably and rapidly re-establish a corresponding peripheral blood flow in order to prevent secondary damage. The use of heart-lung machines basically allows the essential vital functions to be maintained. A specific adaptation to the respective actual requirements generally does not take place with such devices, however. Rather, conventional heart-lung machines are devices which, using external pumps, maintain a forced circulation of blood without systematically entering into the respective requirements of the heart which has been weakened or subjected to a failure.

In surgical interventions, particularly in the vein area, it has already been proposed to carry out retroinfusion, controlled by venous pressure, from or in veins of the body with the suction” of fluid and return of the fluid via a pump. Conventional catheters are used here, the lumina of which allow a suction of fluid and via the lumina of which the return is made possible at a suitable site. Known devices, particularly for the retroinfusion of blood in coronary veins in the area of myocardial protection during a brief coronary artery closure within a cardiological intervention, are generally devised so that a balloon dilatation of an arteriosclerotically constricted coronary artery is carried out. In these cases, a compensation which is adapted to the intervention briefly taking place respectively can be carried out by the return of blood which has been drawn off in veins. For a continuous restitution of the full function of a heart, however, the criteria are not taken into account which would be relevant for the full function of the heart, and an intensive provision over a particular period of time is therefore not provided with such devices. At the same time, the provision of the other organs must also be maintained.

In the device known from AT 407 960 B for assisting the performance of a heart, fluid is removed from blood vessels via an external pump and is returned into blood vessels via a return catheter, in which the returned quantity of fluid is regulated as a function of measurement values, with a heart ventricle catheter being provided to obtain these measurement values. The known device comprised a heart ventricle catheter which is equipped in the cardiac chamber with sensors to measure the volume of fluid per unit of time, in which these sensors, in the introduced state of the heart ventricle catheter, lie in the cardiac chamber and these sensors are connected with an evaluation circuit in which the ratio of the diastolic volume to the systolic volume is evaluated per heartbeat or per unit of time in particular the discharge rate and/or the deviation of the volume conveyed per unit of time by the heart from a defined rated value is evaluated, for example the rated value, calculated from physically specific data for the cardiac output. The signal which is generated in this way is passed to the pump, via which fluid is withdrawn from the cardiac chamber and is recirculated as a function of the generated signal.

SUMMARY

A fluid flow which is improved by the pump is to be developed in a way in which the mechanical stress of highly sensitive fluids, such as blood for example, can be kept as low as possible and nevertheless the corresponding improvement to circulation can be ensured at desired locations. A completely impervious separation of the rotor from the drive wheel is achieved by a magneto coupling which is provided according to the invention, which eliminates axial passages between the drive wheel and the rotor lying distally on the outside.

The rotor itself can follow design principles such as described for example in WO 01/70300 Al. The rotary pump shown and described there for conveying blood and other highly sensitive fluids is formed as an external electromagnetically driven pump which is not directly suitable for incorporation into a catheter. However, for the desired conveying capacity with the axial pump according to the invention, provision is also made according to the invention that the rotor has guide surfaces to produce centrifugal flow components.

The driving fluid can be used within the scope of the invention in order to be able to operate a balloon for retroperfusion. The embodiment is preferably devised hereby so that the lumina for the driving fluid are guided through an expandable balloon surrounding the catheter in a sealing manner, and that the lumina have separately controllable closure members via which driving fluid can arrive in the balloon or out of the balloon into the respective lumina, in which preferably the closure members are formed as magneto valves. On inflation of the balloon, additional driving medium is required which can be discharged again on collapsing of the balloon. This is possible extracorporally on the drive side by means of a reservoir.

The embodiment to assist the performance of a heart according to the invention, in which fluid is conveyed in blood vessels with the use of a pump and the conveyed quantity is able to be regulated as a function of measurement values of a heart ventricle catheter, from which the cardiac output is determined, proceeds from a development according to AT 407 960 B and is characterised substantially in that the pump is formed as an intravasal rotary pump at the periphery or at the distal end of the catheter, the rotor of which, lying on the outside, is connected via a magneto coupling with the drive which is arranged inside the catheter.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF DRAWINGS

The invention is explained in further detail below by use of an examplary embodiment which is illustrated diagrammatically in the drawings, in which

FIG. 1 shows a diagrammatic illustration of the arrangement of the pump and of the drive,

FIG. 2 shows a diagrammatic illustration of the distal end of a catheter which is used according to the invention, and

FIG. 3 shows an enlarged illustration of the part of the catheter bearing the balloon, in section.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

In FIG. 1, a heart is designated by 1, into which a heart ventricle catheter 2 is introduced. The catheter is introduced here for example via the femoral artery and the aortic arch 3 into the heart chamber and carries a series of sensors 4 via which the volume can be determined. The measurement signals are passed to a control arrangement 5. The heart ventricle catheter is formed with several lumina, as additionally illustrated below in further figures of the drawings, with fluid being supplied via such lumina to drive a rotor, arranged at the distal end, which forms the pump to assist the blood circulation and is designated by 6 in FIG. 1. The positioning of this rotor is indicated in FIG. 1 by the arrow 8. The driving medium for the rotor or the pump is guided in a circular flow by means of a fluid pump 7 which can be regulated in a synchronised manner as a function of the control signals generated in the control arrangement 5. The distal region in which the pump is arranged is designated diagrammatically by 8, the catheter 2 having at its distal end a tube 9 leading to the suction end 10. A reservoir for driving fluid is designated by 11, which provides additional driving medium for filling the balloon 12 serving for an occlusion of the artery, and which receives again the volume of driving medium occurring on deflation of the balloon.

The volumetric measurement in the cardiac chamber allows differences to be reliably detected between the diastolic and systolic volume and allows corresponding correction signals to be made available for the output of the synchronised fluid pump 7.

Furthermore, in the control circuit 5, corresponding fixed values can be provided, such as for example a defined cardiac output, which is referred to on deviation of the measured cardiac output to control the pump.

A retroperfusion can take place via a conventional balloon catheter which is occluded in a correspondingly synchronized manner, so that the directed return is in fact guaranteed during the diastole. Hereby the corresponding measurement values for the heart rate or for the correct moment of the diastole can be obtained from ECG data.

In FIG. 2, the distal end of a modified catheter 2 is now illustrated. The end side 13 of this catheter has two pocket-shaped chambers 14 and 15, in which bar magnets are respectively arranged. The bar magnet 16 is connected here at the distal end outwards via a shaft 17 with a rotor 18, whereas the bar magnet 19 lying on the inside is connected via a shaft 20 with a drive wheel 21. The drive wheel 21 is formed here as a paddle wheel and is acted upon with fluid via a lumen 22, this fluid flowing off again via the lumen 23 of the catheter. The rotation of the paddle wheel 21 is regulated here accordingly by corresponding control of the fluid pressure in the lumen 22 serving for the supply of fluid, in which the magnet 19, which is connected so as to be locked against relative rotation with the paddle wheel 21, is set into corresponding rotation. At the outer side, which is completely sealed with respect to the lumina 22 and 23, the magnet 16 is subsequently entrained accordingly and drives the rotor 18 via the shaft 17, whereby a flow is formed in the region of the tube 9, as is indicated by the arrows 24, and which assists the natural blood flow in the vessel 26, illustrated by the arrow 25.

In FIG. 3, the partial region of the balloon 12, which is connected in a sealing manner to the catheter 2, is illustrated on an enlarged scale. The two lumina leading away from the fluid pump 7 and back to the fluid pump 7 are designated in turn by 22 and 23. In the region of the balloon 12, the wall of these lumina is provided with valves which can be actuated magnetically for example. The valves are indicated diagrammatically by 27 and 28. An opening of the valve 27 leads to the fluid, coming from the fluid pump 7, which is under pressure, which is indicated by the “+” sign, being pumped into the balloon 12, with which the overall quantity of the circulating driving fluid would of course be reduced, in so far as the reservoir 11, indicated diagrammatically in FIG. 1, is not provided. By closing the valve 27, the occlusion is closed off, the collapsing of the balloon 12 being able to be brought about by opening the valve 28 and the fluid now being drawn off via the lumen 23, leading back to the pump, which lumen 23 is at a slightly lower pressure which is indicated by the“−” sign. As the overall volume of the fluid in the circulating system is now to be reduced, a portion of this volume must be pumped back again into the reservoir 11 according to FIG. 1.

The description of devices, systems, and method and related applications as set forth herein is illustrative and is not intended to limit the scope of the invention. Features of various embodiments may be combined with other embodiments within the contemplation of this invention. Variations and modifications of the embodiments disclosed herein are possible, and practical alternatives to and equivalents of the various elements of the embodiments would be understood to those of ordinary skill in the art upon study of this patent document. These and other variations and modifications of the embodiments disclosed herein may be made without departing from the scope and spirit of the invention.

Claims

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; anda 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;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 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 passively control an axial position of the magnetic rotor assembly relative to the second magnetic device.

15. 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 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; anda 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 magneto coupling is configured to passively control an axial position of the magnetic rotor assembly relative to the second magnetic device,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 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;suctioning the blood from the ventricle and into the inflow tube;driving the blood through outflow port;returning the blood to the aorta.

16. The method of claim 15, 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.

17. The method of claim 15, wherein the guide surfaces are spaced axially away from the inner surface of the substantially planar bottom wall.

18. The method of claim 15, 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 15, 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 15, 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 15, 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 15, 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. 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; anda 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;passively controlling an axial 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; andreturning the blood to the aorta.

25. The method of claim 24, 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.

26. The method of claim 24, wherein the second magnetic device is axially closer to the first magnetic device than to the guide surfaces of the rotor.

27. The method of claim 24, 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.

28. The method of claim 24, 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.

29. The method of claim 24, 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.

30. The method of claim 24, 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.

31. The method of claim 30, controlling the heart assist pump device with the control arrangement.