Claims
- 1. An implantable aortic blood pump, comprising:
a wall, the wall adapted to maintain stability of the implantable aortic blood pump when implanted; an expandable membrane attached to the wall; an interior volume defined by the wall and the membrane; and an inflation port housing integral with the wall, the inflation port housing having an aperture therein in fluid communication with the interior volume.
- 2. The aortic blood pump of claim 1, wherein the wall is adapted to maintain implant stability by connection to an element for stiffening the wall.
- 3. The aortic blood pump of claim 2 wherein the element for stiffening the wall is selected from the group consisting of: a stent, a brace, a stiffener or any combination thereof.
- 4. The aortic blood pump of claim 1 wherein the wall is adapted to maintain implant stability by configuring the interior volume to generally follow the contour of the native human aorta.
- 5. An implantable aortic blood pump comprising:
an elongate semi-rigid shell having an outer surface and an inner surface terminating in a peripheral side edge and at least one passage extending through the shell to define an opening in the inner surface; an elongate, flexible membrane connected to the semi-rigid shell adjacent to the peripheral side edge and defining an enclosed inflatable chamber in fluid communication with the at least one passage; and an element for stiffening the semi-rigid shell.
- 6. The aortic blood pump of claim 5, wherein the stiffening element further comprises: a stent connected to the semi-rigid shell extending outwardly from the shell to define a substantially open cylindrical area for expansion of the flexible membrane therein when inflated through the at least one passage.
- 7. The aortic blood pump of claim 6, wherein the stent is expandable.
- 8. The aortic blood pump of claim 6, wherein the stiffening element further comprises: at least one elongate arcuate brace having opposite ends connected to the outer surface of the semi-rigid shell adjacent opposite lateral sides for encircling an aorta, wherein the aorta of a patient is interposable between the brace and the stent when implanted.
- 9. The aortic blood pump of claim 5, wherein the stiffening element further comprises: an elongate stiffener connected to the outer surface of the semi-rigid shell.
- 10. The aortic blood pump of claim 9, wherein the elongate stiffener has opposite ends connected to the semi-rigid shell.
- 11. The aortic blood pump of claim 9, wherein the elongate stiffener is non-linear between the opposite ends.
- 12. The aortic blood pump of claim 9, wherein the elongate stiffener passes to at least one side of the at least one passage formed in the semi-rigid shell, wherein the at least one passage is located generally midway between the opposing longitudinally extending peripheral sides of the semi-rigid shell.
- 13. The aortic blood pump of claim 9, wherein the elongate stiffener is in continuous contact with the outer surface of the semi-rigid shell.
- 14. The aortic blood pump of claim 5, wherein the stiffening element further comprises: at least one elongate arcuate brace having opposite ends connected to the outer surface of the semi-rigid shell adjacent opposite lateral sides for encircling an aorta of a patient.
- 15. An implantable aortic blood pump comprising:
a balloon pump movable between an inflated state and a deflated state in response to selective communication with a source of pressurized fluid; and a stent movable between a retracted state and an expanded state, the stent having a hollow central portion of sufficient size to accommodate suspension of the balloon pump in the deflated state within the central portion of the stent when the stent is in the retracted state, and of sufficient size to accommodate suspension of the balloon pump in either the deflated state or the inflated state within the central portion of the stent when the stent is in the expanded state.
- 16. An implantable blood pump comprising:
a wall having a top surface, a bottom surface and a thickness, the wall defining an interior pump volume wherein the interior pump volume generally follows the contour of a native human aorta; and an inflatable membrane sealed to the wall.
- 17. The blood pump of claim 16 wherein the bottom surface is secured to the native human aorta.
- 18. The blood pump of claim 16 further comprising a gas port housing integral with the wall, the gas port housing having an aperture therein in fluid communication with the interior pump volume.
- 19. The pump of claim 18 wherein the aperture defines an angle relative to the wall of between 5 and 30 degrees.
- 20. The pump of claim 16 wherein the interior pump volume and the membrane in an inflated state displace from 30 to 80 cubic centimeters.
- 21. The pump of claim 16 wherein the top surface is overlayered with a non-tissue adhesive substance.
- 22. The pump of claim 16 wherein the thickness of the wall is variable.
- 23. An implantable blood pump comprising:
a wall curving to generally follow the contour of a native human aorta; and an inflatable membrane sealed to the wall to form a bladder having an aperture extending from the bladder into an extra-aortic region.
- 24. The pump of claim 23 further comprising a patch anchoring the bladder within an aorta.
- 25. The pump of claim 23 wherein the wall has less elasticity than the membrane.
- 26. A cardiac assist system comprising an implantable blood pump, the pump comprising:
a wall curving to generally follow the contour of a native human aorta; an inflatable membrane sealed to the wall to form a bladder having an aperture extending from the bladder into an extra-aortic region; and a gas tube affording fluid communication between the blood pump and the region external to a patient body.
- 27. The system of claim 26 further comprising a percutaneous access device intermediate between the gas tube and the exterior of the patient's body.
- 28. The system of claim 26 further comprising a compressor for delivering a pulsatile gas flow, an energy source, an air tank, and electronics necessary to control the operation of the system.
- 29. The system of claim 26 wherein the gas tube communicates air to the pump.
REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS
[0001] This application claims priority to U.S. provisional application Serial No. 60/444,077, filed Jan. 31, 2003, and to U.S. provisional application Serial No. 60/477,740, filed Jun. 11, 2003, the entire contents of which are incorporated herein by reference.
Provisional Applications (2)
|
Number |
Date |
Country |
|
60477740 |
Jun 2003 |
US |
|
60444077 |
Jan 2003 |
US |