US3766568A
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Driving device of the stirling-cycle relaxation type for an implantable artificial heart
Assignee: Commissariat à l'Énergie Atomique et Aux Énergies Alternatives
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Filing: 1972-01-19
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Granted: 1973-10-23
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Expires: 1992-01-19
Abstract
Abstract A blood-pumping sub-assembly constituted by cardiac modules is associated with a motor of the Stirling-cycle type integrated with a relaxation mechanism for the transfer of energy. The motor comprises a driving-gas cylinder heated by the source of energy and a spring-action gas cylinder, a common piston block forming a cold source, a permeable regenerator displaceable between the hot-source cylinder-head and the piston, means whereby the piston block is locked to the pumping system with the regenerator at the cylinder-head at the end of the systole phase and the piston block is released at the beginning of the diastole phase, means for stopping the piston block during the diastole phase and permitting a limitation of the pumping volume, and means for returning the regenerator and freeing the block, thereby displacing the pumping system to the starting position by means of the spring-action gas throughout the systole phase.
Inventors
- 👤 P Lavigne
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-10-22 20:15
CPC Classifications
A; A61; A61M; A61M60/00; A61M60/80; A61M60/835; A61M60/10; A61M60/122; A61M60/196; A61M60/40; A61M60/424; A61M60/438; A61M60/441; A61M60/855; A61M60/871; A61M60/126; A61M60/148; A61M60/20; A61M60/247; A61M60/253; A61M60/268; Y; Y10; Y10S; Y10S128/00; Y10S128/03
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 14
Claim 1
Independent Claim
232 words
An implantable artificial heart of the relaxation type comprising a blood-pumping sub-assembly constituted by ventrical and auricle cardiac modules, a pump connected to and actuating said modules, a motor connected to said pump for transfer of energy by means of a relaxation process, said motor being of the Stirling-cycle type, a casing for said motor, two cooperating cylinders in line for said motor, pistons in said cylinders, one of said cylinders being a first driving-gas cylinder, a cylinderhead for said first cylinder, a source of energy heating said cylinder head, the other of said cylinders being a second springaction gas cylinder, a piston block common to said cylinders and forming a cold source, a regenerator having a permeable structure for displacement within said first cylinder between said source of energy on said cylinder-head and said piston in said cylinder, means for locking said piston block in a position of minimum volume of gas within said cylinder-head at the end of the systole phase, means for displacement and coupling of said regenerator with said piston block, means for releasing said piston block at the beginning of the distole phase, stopping means for locking said piston block in inoperative position during the diastole and limiting the pumping volume, and means for returning said regenerator and freeing said piston block with return to the starting position by said spring-action gas cylinder throughout the systole phase.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
232 words
An implantable artificial heart of the relaxation type comprising a blood-pumping sub-assembly constituted by ventrical and auricle cardiac modules, a pump connected to and actuating said modules, a motor connected to said pump for transfer of energy by means of a relaxation process, said motor being of the Stirling-cycle type, a casing for said motor, two cooperating cylinders in line for said motor, pistons in said cylinders, one of said cylinders being a first driving-gas cylinder, a cylinderhead for said first cylinder, a source of energy heating said cylinder head, the other of said cylinders being a second springaction gas cylinder, a piston block common to said cylinders and forming a cold source, a regenerator having a permeable structure for displacement within said first cylinder between said source of energy on said cylinder-head and said piston in said cylinder, means for locking said piston block in a position of minimum volume of gas within said cylinder-head at the end of the systole phase, means for displacement and coupling of said regenerator with said piston block, means for releasing said piston block at the beginning of the distole phase, stopping means for locking said piston block in inoperative position during the diastole and limiting the pumping volume, and means for returning said regenerator and freeing said piston block with return to the starting position by said spring-action gas cylinder throughout the systole phase.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
71 words
An artificial heart according to claim 1, including a diaphragm buffer volume, a circulation system for said auricle cardiac modules, said buffer volume being connected in said system, the pressure of said buffer volume being maintained by a flexible diaphragm at a reference value in the vicinity of atmospheric pressure and the intermediate pressure fluid in the auricular modules and in the buffer volume having the same density as the blood.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
43 words
An artificial heart according to claim 1, wherein said driving-gas cylinder and said spring-gas cylinder have the same cross-sectional area, said spring-gas cylinder extends into at least part of said casing and said piston block having two sections connected together by a rod.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
60 words
An artificial heart according to claim 3, said piston block having a lateral member, means for moMentary locking said block at the end of the diastole phase, said connecting rod of said pistons unlocking said block at the end of its movement of withdrawal for displacement by said lateral member when said piston block moves upwards during the systole phase.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
53 words
An artificial heart according to claim 4, said source of energy surrounding said regenerator in the rest condition at the head of said driving cylinder including a sheath containing a radioelement, a thermal capacity enclosing said sheath of a compound having a high latent heat of fusion, and thermal insulation protecting said capacity.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
31 words
An artificial heart according to claim 5, said regenerator being a capillary network longitudinal to the axis of said motor cylinders and thermal insulation on the inactive portions of said regenerator.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
49 words
An artificial heart according to claim 1 said means for displacement and coupling of said regenerator with said piston block during the diastole phase include permanent magnetic circuit between said piston block and a magnetic pallet rigidly fixed to said regenerator and subjected to attraction by said piston block.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
108 words
An artificial heart according to claim 7, said means for returning said regenerator on completion of the diastole phase include an axial bore extending through said piston block, a plunger having a small cross-sectional area contiguously displaced within one end of said bore by said magnetic pallet, said bore being closed at the other end to cause at the proper time the expulsion of said plunger and the return of said regenerator to its starting position when the pressure force of the gas within said bore becomes greater than the magnetic attraction exerted by said piston block on said pallet plus the pressure forces within said driving cylinder.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
56 words
An artificial heart according to claim 3, said means for locking said piston block and limiting the downward travel of said block including catches engaging step-type stops at the end of a diastolic period, said rod of said pistons having a catch-escapement device for releasing said piston block at the end of withdrawal of said pistons.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
56 words
An artificial heart according to claim 4, said means for momentarily locking of the piston block at the end of the systole include lateral magnetic armatures fixed on said piston block and cooperating with permanent magnets, a support for said permanent magnets surrounding said driving cylinder annularly, said support being an internal extension of said casing.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
58 words
An artificial heart according to claim 10, said pumping cylinders being coaxial with said driving cylinder, said rod of said pumping pistons being slidable between said driving cylinder and said support and an annular flange on said rod abuting beneath said support and defining the top position of said pumping pistons at the end of the systole phase.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim
28 words
An artificial heart according to claim 1, including intermediate liquid collectors at pressures including the reference pressure forming with said pumping cylinders a jacket around said driving cylinder.
Claim 14
Dependent Claim
34 words
An artificial heart according to claim 1, the heart including a circulation system for recovery of gas leakage resulting from variations in pressure between the volumes of driving gas, spring gas and casing gas.
References Cited (Backward Citations)
USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows
| Annuity Stage | Window Opens | Payment Deadline | Surcharge Period Until | Estimated Fee | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3.5 Years (Year 4) | 1976-10-22 | 1977-04-23 | 1977-10-23 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 1980-10-22 | 1981-04-23 | 1981-10-23 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 1984-10-22 | 1985-04-23 | 1985-10-23 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |