Jet pump cardiac replacement and assist device and method of at least partially replacing a disabled right heart

Claim 2

An implantable jet pump cardiac replacement and assist device comprising: A. an elongated tubular housing, said housing being of a size adapted to implantation in a living being and of lightweight material compatible with body fluids, B. an inwardly tapering suction nozzle inlet adjacent to the upstream end of said housing, C. an inwardly tapering concentric driving nozzle within said tubular housing, the downstream end of said driving nozzle being in fluid communication with said suction nozzle and associated with said suction nozzle to create a zone of reduced pressure therein, D. a suction plenum upstream from and in fluid communication with said suction nozzle, said plenum including means for connection to receive venous blood of the recipient living being, E. means for connecting said driving nozzle to a source of arterial blood of the recipient living being, F. a mixing chamber within said housing downstream from said suction and driving nozzles and in fluid communication therewith, G. a discharge outlet downstream from said mixing chamber, and H. means for connecting said discharge outlet to the pulmonary circulation system of the recipient living being.

Claim 3

A device according to claim 1 further characterized in that: A. said driving nozzle is of lesser diameter than and upstream from the suction nozzle, B. an annular orifice exists between said driving nozzle and said suction nozzle, C. means are provided to hold said nozzles concentric.

Claim 4

an inwardly tapering suction nozzle inlet adjacent to the upstream end of said housing,

Claim 5

an inwardly tapering suction nozzle inlet adjacent to the upstream end of said housing,

Claim 6

an inwardly tapering concentric driving nozzle within said tubular housing, the downstream end of said driving nozzle being in fluid communication with said suction nozzle and associated with said suction nozzle to create a zone of reduced pressure therein,

Claim 7

an inwardly tapering concentric driving nozzle within said tubular housing, the downstream end of said driving nozzle being in fluid communication with said suction nozzle and associated with said suction nozzle to create a zone of reduced pressure therein,

Claim 8

A device according to claim 1 further characterized in that: A. said driving nozzle is an annular orifice tapering radially inwardly and encircling the downstream end of said suction nozzle, B. an annular chamber of greater diameter and greater cross-sectional area surrounds said driving nozzle, and C. said drivIng nozzle is in direct fluid communication with said annular chamber and said annular chamber is in direct fluid communication with said means for connection with a source of arterial blood.

Claim 9

A device according to claim 1 further characterized in that said discharge outlet comprises an outwardly tapered diffuser.

Claim 10

a suction plenum upstream from and in fluid communication with said suction nozzle,

Claim 11

a suction plenum upstream from and in fluid communication with said suction nozzle,

Claim 12

means for connecting said driving nozzle to a source of arterial blood,

Claim 13

means for connecting said driving nozzle to a source of arterial blood,

Claim 14

a device according to claim 1 further characterized in that the blood contacting surfaces of the inside of the housing, the inside of the suction nozzle, the inside and outside of the drive nozzle, the inside of the suction plenum, the inside of the mixing chamber and the inside of said connecting means and discharge outlet are comprised of an anti-thrombogenic and anti-hemolytic material.

Claim 15

A jet pump cardiac replacement and assist device comprising: A. an elongated tubular housing, B. an inwardly tapering suction nozzle inlet adjacent to the upstream end of said housing, said suction nozzle tapering inwardly from a diameter between about 0.5 to 2.5 centimeters to between about 0.25 to 2 centimeters over a length between about 0.2 to 1 centimeter, C. an inwardly tapering concentric driving nozzle within said tubular housing, the downstream end of said driving nozzle being in fluid communication with said suction nozzle and associated with said suction nozzle to create a zone of reduced pressure therein, said driving nozzle being of lesser diameter than and upstream from the suction nozzle, the diameter of said driving nozzle being between about 0.2 to 0.6 centimeter, D. an annular orifice between said driving nozzle and said suction nozzle, E. means to hold said nozzles concentric, F. a suction plenum upstream from and in fluid communication with said suction nozzle, G. means for connecting said driving nozzle to a source of arterial blood, H. a mixing chamber within said housing downstream from said suction and driving nozzles and in fluid communication therewith, the diameter of said mixing chamber being between about 0.25 to 2 centimeters and its length being up to ten times its diameter, I. a discharge outlet downstream from said mixing chamber, and J. means for connecting said discharge outlet to the pulmonary circulation system.

Claim 16

A jet pump cardiac replacement and assist device comprising: A. an elongated tubular housing, B. an inwardly tapering suction nozzle inlet adjacent to the upstream end of said housing, said suction nozzle tapering inwardly from a diameter between about 0.5 to 2.5 centimeters to between about 0.25 to 2 centimeters over a length between about 0.2 to 1 centimeter, C. an inwardly tapering concentric driving nozzle within said tubular housing, the downstream end of said driving nozzle being in fluid communication with said suction nozzle and associated with said suction nozzle to create a zone of reduced pressure therein, said driving nozzle being of lesser diameter than and upstream from the suction nozzle, the diameter of said driving nozzle being between about 0.2 to 0.6 centimeter, D. an annular orifice between said driving nozzle and said suction nozzle, E. means to hold said nozzles concentric, F. a suction plenum upstream from and in fluid communication with said suction nozzle, G. means for connecting said driving nozzle to a source of arterial blood, H. a mixing chamber within said housing downstream from said suction and driving nozzles and in fluid communication therewith, the diameter of said mixing chamber being between about 0.25 to 2 centimeters and its length being up to ten times its diameter, I. a discharge outlet downstream from said mixing chamber, and J. means for connecting said discharge outlet to the pulmonary circulation system.

Claim 17

a mixing chamber within said housing downstream from said suction and driving nozzles and in fluid communication therewith,

Claim 18

a mixing chamber within said housing downstream from said suction and driving nozzles and in fluid communication therewith,

Claim 19

a discharge outlet downstream from said mixing chamber, and

Claim 20

a discharge outlet downstream from said mixing chamber, and

Claim 21

A device according to claim 6 further characterized in that said discharge outlet comprises an outwardly tapered diffuser of between about 6* and 30* and an exit diameter between about 1 to 2.5 centimeters corresponding to the diameter of the pulmonary artery.

Claim 24

means for connecting said discharge outlet to the pulmonary circulation system. B. connecting the suction plenum of said jet pump to receive venous blood from the right atrium of the heart, and C. connecting the discharge outlet from said jet pump to the pulmonary circulation system.

Claim 25

means for connecting said discharge outlet to the pulmonary circulation system. B. connecting the suction plenum of said jet pump to receive venous blood from the right atrium of the heart, and C. connecting the discharge outlet from said jet pump to the pulmonary circulation system.

Claim 26

A method according to claim 8 further charactErized in that the driving nozzle is connected to the aorta.

Claim 27

A method according to claim 8 further characterized in that the driving nozzle is connected to an artificial pump replacement for the left heart.

Claim 28

A method according to claim 8 further characterized in that the tricuspid and pulmonary valves of said right heart are made incompetent and said jet pump is implanted within the heart between the right ventricle and pulmonary artery as a total replacement of the right heart.

Claim 29

A method according to claim 8 further characterized in that one end of said jet pump is connected externally of the heart to the right atrium of the heart and the other end of said pump is connected externally of the heart to the pulmonary artery in parallel with the right heart as an assist to the right heart.