US3771173A
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Artificial heart
Assignee: Individual
•
Filing: 1971-06-09
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Granted: 1973-11-13
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Expires: 1991-06-09
Abstract
Abstract An artificial heart capable of acting as a substitute for a natural heart comprising a casing constructed of a material compatible with tissue of a living being and of a size to fit within the chest cavity of a living being after removal of the natural heart. Tube means are provided on the casing for connection to the natural blood vessels of the living being with valve means operatively associated with the tube means for controlling the flow of blood therethrough. The casing includes a pair of cavity portions capable of functioning as the two ventricles of the natural heart, with independent diaphragm means operatively associated with each cavity portion. A pressure plate is reciprocally mounted in each cavity portion and is operatively associated with the diaphragm means for effecting a pumping action of blood through the tube means and into the blood vessel in simulation of the natural heart. A single reciprocally operable solenoid means is operatively associated with the two pressure plates for simultaneously effecting operation of each pressure plate in a pumping operation. The heart is cyclically controlled by a pulser operable power pack adapted to be worn by the living being externally of the body. The power pack includes control means adapted to be connected through input supply lines to the solenoid means for controlling the cyclic rate of the pumping operation.
Inventors
- 👤 E Lamb
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-10-22 16:07
CPC Classifications
A; A61; A61M; A61M60/00; A61M60/80; A61M60/855; A61M60/89; A61M60/894; A61M60/10; A61M60/122; A61M60/196; A61M60/40; A61M60/424; A61M60/438; A61M60/449; A61M60/871; A61M60/878; A61M60/126; A61M60/148; A61M60/20; A61M60/247; A61M60/253; A61M60/268; Y; Y10; Y10S; Y10S128/00; Y10S128/03
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 10
Claim 1
Independent Claim
433 words
An artificial heart capable of acting as a substitute for a natural heart comprising: a. a casing constructed of material compatible with the tissue of a living being and of a size to fit within the chest cavity of a living being after removal of the natural heart; b. tube means on said casing for connection to natural blood vessels of said living being; c. valve means operatively associated with said tube means for controlling the flow of blood therethrough; d. pumping means operatively associated with said casing and said tube means for circulating blood through said tube means in simulation of the natural heart; and e. means operatively associated with said pumping means for controlling the cyclic rate of said pumping means, said control means including signal responsive means operable for effecting a cycle of operation of said pumping means, an input supply line electrically connected to said signal responsive means for transmitting an operable control signal thereto, a power supply source, a pair of lead lines electrically connected in parallel fashion between said power Supply source and said input supply line, signal conducting switch means electrically connected in series to one of said lead lines and being normally biased to a non-conducting condition, means electrically connected between said switch means and said other lead line for automatically and serially biasing said switch means between alternate conducting and non-conducting conditions in response to input power into said pair of lead lines whereby said switch means will effectively transmit a continuous series of operable control signals having a predetermined length through said input supply line to effect operation of said signal responsive control means to thereby control the cyclic rate of said pumping means, said means electrically connected between said signal conducting switch and said other lead line for automatically and serially biasing said signal conducting switch means between alternate conducting and non-conducting conditions including a pulsating switch means normally biased to a non-conducting condition electrically connected in series between said power supply source and said first switch means, and bias reversing means operatively connected in series with said pulsating switch means and between said signal conducting switch means and said input supply line, said control means including a selectively adjustable resistor means operatively connected in series between said power supply source and said pulsating switch means for adjusting the cyclic rate of said pumping means, said signal conducting switch means including a PNP transistor and said pulsating switch means including an NPN transistor with the base portion of said PNP transistor being electrically connected to the collector portion of said NPN transistor.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
433 words
An artificial heart capable of acting as a substitute for a natural heart comprising: a. a casing constructed of material compatible with the tissue of a living being and of a size to fit within the chest cavity of a living being after removal of the natural heart; b. tube means on said casing for connection to natural blood vessels of said living being; c. valve means operatively associated with said tube means for controlling the flow of blood therethrough; d. pumping means operatively associated with said casing and said tube means for circulating blood through said tube means in simulation of the natural heart; and e. means operatively associated with said pumping means for controlling the cyclic rate of said pumping means, said control means including signal responsive means operable for effecting a cycle of operation of said pumping means, an input supply line electrically connected to said signal responsive means for transmitting an operable control signal thereto, a power supply source, a pair of lead lines electrically connected in parallel fashion between said power Supply source and said input supply line, signal conducting switch means electrically connected in series to one of said lead lines and being normally biased to a non-conducting condition, means electrically connected between said switch means and said other lead line for automatically and serially biasing said switch means between alternate conducting and non-conducting conditions in response to input power into said pair of lead lines whereby said switch means will effectively transmit a continuous series of operable control signals having a predetermined length through said input supply line to effect operation of said signal responsive control means to thereby control the cyclic rate of said pumping means, said means electrically connected between said signal conducting switch and said other lead line for automatically and serially biasing said signal conducting switch means between alternate conducting and non-conducting conditions including a pulsating switch means normally biased to a non-conducting condition electrically connected in series between said power supply source and said first switch means, and bias reversing means operatively connected in series with said pulsating switch means and between said signal conducting switch means and said input supply line, said control means including a selectively adjustable resistor means operatively connected in series between said power supply source and said pulsating switch means for adjusting the cyclic rate of said pumping means, said signal conducting switch means including a PNP transistor and said pulsating switch means including an NPN transistor with the base portion of said PNP transistor being electrically connected to the collector portion of said NPN transistor.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
58 words
An artificial heart as described in claim 1 further characterized in that said bias reversing means includes a capacitor electrically connected between said input supply line and the base portion of said NPN transistor, with said selectively adjustable resistor means being electrically connected in series between said power supply source and said base portion of said NPN transistor.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
363 words
A heart power unit capable of being worn externally of the body and connected to a signal responsive means of an artificial heart adapted to be implanted within the body chest cavity and including pumping means, with the power unit operable for controlling the cyclic rate of said pumping means, said power unit including a power supply source, an input supply line electrically operable with the signal responsive pumping means for transmitting an operable control signal thereto, a pair of lead lines electrically connected in parallel fashion between said power supply source and said input supply line, signal conducting switch means electrically connected in series to one of said lead lines and being normally biased to a non-conducting condition, means electrically connected between said signal conducting switch means and said other lead line for automatically and serially biasing said signal conducting switch means between alternate conducting and non-conducting conditions in response to input power from said supply source to said pair of lead lines whereby said signal conducting switch means will effectively and automatically transmit a continuous series of operable control signals having a predetermined length through said input supply line to effect operation of said signal responsive pump operating means to thereby control the cyclic rate of said pumping means, said means electrically connected between said signal conducting switch means and said other lead line for automatically and serially biasing said signal conducting switch means between alternate conducting and non-conducting conditions including a pulsating switch means normally biased to a non-conducting condition electrically connected in series between said power supply source and said pulsating switch means and bias reversing means being operatively connected in series with said pulsating switch means and between said signal conducting switch means and said input supply line, said control means including a selectively adjustable resistor means operatively connected in series between said power supply source and said pulsating switch means for adjusting the cyclic rate of said pumping means, and said signal conducting switch means including a PNP transistor and said pulsating switch means including an NPN transistor with the base portion of said PNP transistor being electrically connected to the collector portion of said NPN transistor.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
363 words
A heart power unit capable of being worn externally of the body and connected to a signal responsive means of an artificial heart adapted to be implanted within the body chest cavity and including pumping means, with the power unit operable for controlling the cyclic rate of said pumping means, said power unit including a power supply source, an input supply line electrically operable with the signal responsive pumping means for transmitting an operable control signal thereto, a pair of lead lines electrically connected in parallel fashion between said power supply source and said input supply line, signal conducting switch means electrically connected in series to one of said lead lines and being normally biased to a non-conducting condition, means electrically connected between said signal conducting switch means and said other lead line for automatically and serially biasing said signal conducting switch means between alternate conducting and non-conducting conditions in response to input power from said supply source to said pair of lead lines whereby said signal conducting switch means will effectively and automatically transmit a continuous series of operable control signals having a predetermined length through said input supply line to effect operation of said signal responsive pump operating means to thereby control the cyclic rate of said pumping means, said means electrically connected between said signal conducting switch means and said other lead line for automatically and serially biasing said signal conducting switch means between alternate conducting and non-conducting conditions including a pulsating switch means normally biased to a non-conducting condition electrically connected in series between said power supply source and said pulsating switch means and bias reversing means being operatively connected in series with said pulsating switch means and between said signal conducting switch means and said input supply line, said control means including a selectively adjustable resistor means operatively connected in series between said power supply source and said pulsating switch means for adjusting the cyclic rate of said pumping means, and said signal conducting switch means including a PNP transistor and said pulsating switch means including an NPN transistor with the base portion of said PNP transistor being electrically connected to the collector portion of said NPN transistor.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
59 words
A heart power unit as described in claim 3 further characterized in that said bias reversing means includes a capacitor electrically connected between said input supply line and the base portion of said NPN transistor, with said selectively adjustable resistor means being electrically connected in series between said power supply source and said base portion of said NPN transistor.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
394 words
An artificial heart capable of acting as a substitute for a natural heart comprising: a. a casing constructed of material compatible with the tissue of a living being and of a size to fit within the chest cavity of a living being after removal of the natural heart; b. tube means on said casing for connection to natural blood vessels of said living being; c. valve means operatively associated with said tube means for controlling the flow of blood therethrough; d. pumping means operatively associated with said casing and said tube means for circulating blood through said tube means in simulation of the natural heart; and, e. means operatively associated with said pumping means for controlling the cyclic rate of said pumping means, said control means including signal responsive means operable for effecting a cycle of operation of said pumping means, an input supply line electrically connected to said signal responsive means for transmitting an operable control signal thereto, a power supply source, a pair of lead lines electrically connected in parallel fashion between said power supply source and said input supply line, signal conducting switch means electrically connected in series to one of said lead lines and being normally biased to a non-conducting condition, means electrically connected between said switch means and said other lead line for automatically and serially biasing said switch means between alternate conducting and non-conducting conditions in response to input power into said pair of lead lines whereby said switch means will effectively transmit a continuous series of operable control signals having a predetermined length through said input supply line to effect operation of said signal responsive control means to thereby control the cyclic rate of said pumping means, said pumping means including a reciprocally operable power means and said signal responsive means being operable for effecting a reciprocating cycle of operation of said power means, with means operatively associated with said signal responsive means for controlling the length of signal transmitted to said reciprocally operable power means to thereby ensure uniform cyclic operation of said pumping means; said reciprocally operable power means including a solenoid and said signal responsive control means including relay means operatively associated with said solenoid for transmitting a control signal to effect operation of said solenoid in said pumping operation, said relay means including a relay element and a capacitor connected in parallel therewith.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
394 words
An artificial heart capable of acting as a substitute for a natural heart comprising: a. a casing constructed of material compatible with the tissue of a living being and of a size to fit within the chest cavity of a living being after removal of the natural heart; b. tube means on said casing for connection to natural blood vessels of said living being; c. valve means operatively associated with said tube means for controlling the flow of blood therethrough; d. pumping means operatively associated with said casing and said tube means for circulating blood through said tube means in simulation of the natural heart; and, e. means operatively associated with said pumping means for controlling the cyclic rate of said pumping means, said control means including signal responsive means operable for effecting a cycle of operation of said pumping means, an input supply line electrically connected to said signal responsive means for transmitting an operable control signal thereto, a power supply source, a pair of lead lines electrically connected in parallel fashion between said power supply source and said input supply line, signal conducting switch means electrically connected in series to one of said lead lines and being normally biased to a non-conducting condition, means electrically connected between said switch means and said other lead line for automatically and serially biasing said switch means between alternate conducting and non-conducting conditions in response to input power into said pair of lead lines whereby said switch means will effectively transmit a continuous series of operable control signals having a predetermined length through said input supply line to effect operation of said signal responsive control means to thereby control the cyclic rate of said pumping means, said pumping means including a reciprocally operable power means and said signal responsive means being operable for effecting a reciprocating cycle of operation of said power means, with means operatively associated with said signal responsive means for controlling the length of signal transmitted to said reciprocally operable power means to thereby ensure uniform cyclic operation of said pumping means; said reciprocally operable power means including a solenoid and said signal responsive control means including relay means operatively associated with said solenoid for transmitting a control signal to effect operation of said solenoid in said pumping operation, said relay means including a relay element and a capacitor connected in parallel therewith.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
38 words
An artificial heart as described in claim 5 further characterized in that said relay means includes a number of relay elements electrically connected in series fashion and collectively operable for transmitting an operable control signal to said solenoid.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
25 words
An artificial heart as described in claim 6 further characterized in that each of said relay elements include independent power supply means operatively associated therewith.
References Cited (Backward Citations)
US2888877A
Cited
US3379191A
Cited
USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows
| Annuity Stage | Window Opens | Payment Deadline | Surcharge Period Until | Estimated Fee | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3.5 Years (Year 4) | 1976-11-12 | 1977-05-14 | 1977-11-13 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 1980-11-12 | 1981-05-14 | 1981-11-13 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 1984-11-12 | 1985-05-14 | 1985-11-13 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |