Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 8
Claim 1
Independent Claim
49 words
A method providing high-volume cardiac assist without major surgery, comprising the steps of: (a) inserting continuous rotary pumping means into a living vascular system to be wholly contained thereby; and (b) operating said pumping means to generate a flow of blood through said pumping means and said vascular system.
Claim 2
Independent Claim
49 words
A method providing high-volume cardiac assist without major surgery, comprising the steps of: (a) inserting continuous rotary pumping means into a living vascular system to be wholly contained thereby; and (b) operating said pumping means to generate a flow of blood through said pumping means and said vascular system.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
114 words
An intravascular blood pump, comprising: (a) an elongated housing open at each end, said housing having a shape and size allowing it to be passed through a human blood vessel; (b) non-hemolytic rotary pumping means within said housing for pumping blood in a living patient longitudinally through said housing; (c) conduit means extending from said housing and adapted to lie within said blood vessel without blocking it; (d) power means located remotely from said pumping means for powering said pumping means; and (e) drive means including a flexible cable extending from said power means to said pumping means through said conduit means for transferring drive power from said power means to said pumping means.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
114 words
An intravascular blood pump, comprising: (a) an elongated housing open at each end, said housing having a shape and size allowing it to be passed through a human blood vessel; (b) non-hemolytic rotary pumping means within said housing for pumping blood in a living patient longitudinally through said housing; (c) conduit means extending from said housing and adapted to lie within said blood vessel without blocking it; (d) power means located remotely from said pumping means for powering said pumping means; and (e) drive means including a flexible cable extending from said power means to said pumping means through said conduit means for transferring drive power from said power means to said pumping means.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
27 words
The pump of claim 2, in which said rotary pumping means is an axial flow pump operating at a rotational speed on the order of 10,000-20,000 rpm.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
24 words
The pump of claim 2, in which said rotary pumping means has a blood flow rate on the order of four liters per minute.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
44 words
The pump of claim 2, in which said rotary pumping means is an axial pump in which the relationship between speed of rotation and blade size is such that no point on any blade has a linear velocity high enough to cause significant hemolysis.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
14 words
The pump of claim 5, in which said speed of rotation exceeds 10,000 rpm.