US4173796A
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Total artificial hearts and cardiac assist devices powered and controlled by reversible electrohydraulic energy converters
Assignee: University of Utah Research Foundation Inc
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Filing: 1977-12-09
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Granted: 1979-11-13
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Expires: 1997-12-09
Abstract
Abstract Total artificial hearts and circulatory assist devices, including left ventricular assist devices. The invention relates to electrohydraulic energy converter systems, whereby electric energy from a power source, which may be a battery or other source, is converted into hydraulic power capable of actuating diaphragm, sack, axi-symmetric or other types of blood pumps.
Inventors
- 👤 Robert K. Jarvik
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-10-22 22:43
CPC Classifications
F; F04; F04D; F04D15/00; A; A61; A61M; A61M60/00; A61M60/10; A61M60/122; A61M60/165; A61M60/178; A61M60/196; A61M60/20; A61M60/205; A61M60/216; A61M60/237; A61M60/40; A61M60/403; A61M60/422; A61M60/424; A61M60/427; A61M60/43; A61M60/50; A61M60/508; A61M60/538; A61M60/80; A61M60/855; A61M60/871; A61M60/878; F04D13/00; F04D13/02; F04D13/06; F04D3/00; A61M2205/00; A61M2205/33; A61M2205/3331; A61M2205/3334; A61M60/126; A61M60/148; A61M60/432
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 12
Claim 1
Independent Claim
150 words
An electric-to-hydraulic energy conversion system to actuate and control a diaphragm, sac or axisymmetric blood pump for use in a total artificial heart or cardiac assist system comprising: a reversible hydraulic pump having stator, diffusor elements, and an impellor, and said pump having a high ratio of flow to impellor inertia, a reversible brushless DC motor having a high ratio of power to inertia, said motor having a rotor and stationary elements, a shaft to which both the impellor of the pump and the rotor of the motor are fixed, a housing supporting both said stator and diffusor elements of the pump and the stationary elements of the motor, bearings mounted in the housing supporting the assembly of shaft, motor rotor, and pump impellor for rotation, means for reversing said motor to alternately cause systolic and diastolic action of the artificial heart, and means for controlling said motor reversing means.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
150 words
An electric-to-hydraulic energy conversion system to actuate and control a diaphragm, sac or axisymmetric blood pump for use in a total artificial heart or cardiac assist system comprising: a reversible hydraulic pump having stator, diffusor elements, and an impellor, and said pump having a high ratio of flow to impellor inertia, a reversible brushless DC motor having a high ratio of power to inertia, said motor having a rotor and stationary elements, a shaft to which both the impellor of the pump and the rotor of the motor are fixed, a housing supporting both said stator and diffusor elements of the pump and the stationary elements of the motor, bearings mounted in the housing supporting the assembly of shaft, motor rotor, and pump impellor for rotation, means for reversing said motor to alternately cause systolic and diastolic action of the artificial heart, and means for controlling said motor reversing means.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
21 words
An electric-to-hydraulic energy conversion system as defined in claim 1, in which the hydraulic fluid pump is an axial flow pump.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
25 words
An electric-to-hydraulic energy conversion system as defined in claim 1, in which the brushless DC motor is commutated by the back EMF of the motor.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
39 words
An energy converter as defined in claim 1, in which the volume of blood adapted to be ejected from the artificial ventricle during systole is substantially the same as the volume of fluid pumped by the reversible hydraulic pump.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
56 words
A cardiac assist system actuated by an electrohydraulic energy converter as defined in claim 1, in which the blood pump is adapted to be placed in the abdomen of a patient and a compliant reservoir sack is adapted to be placed in the chest with the energy converter positioned between said blood pump and said sack.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
56 words
A total artificial heart having a right and left ventricle actuated by an electrohydraulic energy converter as defined in claim 1, in which the hydraulic fluid is alternately pumped from the right to the left ventricle and vice versa, and in which blood is adapted to be alternately pumped out of the right and left ventricles.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
21 words
An energy conversion system as defined in claim 1 in which the motor reversal controlling means is a fixed memory device.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
31 words
An energy conversion system as defined in claim 1 in which the motor reversal controlling means is operated under control of feedback signals derived from differences in torque of the motor.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
23 words
An energy conversion system as defined in claim 1 in which the motor reversal controlling means is operated under control of pressure transducers.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
23 words
An energy conversion system as defined in claim 1 in which the motor reversal controlling means is operated under control of electrocardiographic signals.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
19 words
An energy conversion system as defined in claim 1 including means for selectively controlling the speed of the motor.
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USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows
| Annuity Stage | Window Opens | Payment Deadline | Surcharge Period Until | Estimated Fee | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3.5 Years (Year 4) | 1982-11-12 | 1983-05-14 | 1983-11-13 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 1986-11-12 | 1987-05-14 | 1987-11-13 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 1990-11-12 | 1991-05-14 | 1991-11-13 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |