Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 19
Claim 1
Independent Claim
102 words
A cable drive for an intravascular blood pump, comprising: (a) a motor having a stator surrounding a hollow space; and (b) a cable drive unit removably insertable into said hollow space, said cable drive unit including: (i) fluid-tight housing means having a fluid inlet and a fluid outlet, and a fluid passage connecting the same; (ii) rotor means disposed within said housing means, said rotor means being arranged to be rotated when said housing means is inserted into said stator and said stator is energized; and (iii) means on said rotor means for receiving a drive cable extending though said fluid outlet.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
102 words
A cable drive for an intravascular blood pump, comprising: (a) a motor having a stator surrounding a hollow space; and (b) a cable drive unit removably insertable into said hollow space, said cable drive unit including: (i) fluid-tight housing means having a fluid inlet and a fluid outlet, and a fluid passage connecting the same; (ii) rotor means disposed within said housing means, said rotor means being arranged to be rotated when said housing means is inserted into said stator and said stator is energized; and (iii) means on said rotor means for receiving a drive cable extending though said fluid outlet.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
182 words
A combined sterilizable drive and purge fluid supply system for an intravascular blood pump, comprising: (a) a source of purge fluid; (b) an intravascular blood pump; (c) cable sheath means connected to said blood pump for conveying purge fluid to said blood pump; (d) flexible cable means connected to said blood pump for driving said blood pump, said cable means being positioned in said cable sheath means longitudinally thereof; (e) a drive motor stator surrounding a hollow space; (f) a fluid-tight cable drive removably insertable into said hollow space said cable drive unit including (i) a housing; and (ii) rotor means rotatably supported within said housing, said rotor means being connected to said cable means to rotate the same; (g) tubing means for conveying said purge fluid from said purge fluid source to said cable drive unit; and (h) purge fluid pump means for pumping purge fluid through said tubing means, said tubing means, cable drive unit and cable sheath being interconnected so as to provide a continuous purge fluid flow path therethrough from said purge fluid source to said blood pump.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
182 words
A combined sterilizable drive and purge fluid supply system for an intravascular blood pump, comprising: (a) a source of purge fluid; (b) an intravascular blood pump; (c) cable sheath means connected to said blood pump for conveying purge fluid to said blood pump; (d) flexible cable means connected to said blood pump for driving said blood pump, said cable means being positioned in said cable sheath means longitudinally thereof; (e) a drive motor stator surrounding a hollow space; (f) a fluid-tight cable drive removably insertable into said hollow space said cable drive unit including (i) a housing; and (ii) rotor means rotatably supported within said housing, said rotor means being connected to said cable means to rotate the same; (g) tubing means for conveying said purge fluid from said purge fluid source to said cable drive unit; and (h) purge fluid pump means for pumping purge fluid through said tubing means, said tubing means, cable drive unit and cable sheath being interconnected so as to provide a continuous purge fluid flow path therethrough from said purge fluid source to said blood pump.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
41 words
The system of claim 2, in which said cable sheath means include a pair of lumens, one of said lumens being conectable to said tubing means, and the other lumen containing said cable means and being connectable to fluid discharge means.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
22 words
The system of claim 3, further comprising discharge pump means for pumping fluid through said other lumen toward said fluid discharge means.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
28 words
The system of claim 4, in which said discharge pump means are of a type arranged to convey fluid at a constant rate toward said fluid discharge means.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
34 words
The system of claim 3, in which said cable drive unit further includes a fluid passage through said housing, and said other lumen is connectable to said fluid discharge means through said fluid passage.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
15 words
The system of claim 6, in which said rotor is positioned in said fluid passage.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
21 words
The system of claim 7, in which said rotor is coated to prevent corrosion by the fluid in said fluid passage.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
19 words
The system of claim 2, in which said stator is gimbaled so that its axis is substantially omnidirectionally movable.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
43 words
The system of claim 2, in which the interconnection between said rotor means and said cable means is such as to permit free relative movement between said rotor means and said cable means in the axial direction but not in the rotary direction.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim
27 words
The system of claim 2, in which said purge fluid pump means are of a type arranged to convey fluid at a constant rate through said tubing.
Claim 14
Dependent Claim
114 words
A disposable, sterilizable intravascular axial flow blood pump assembly, comprising: (a) a blood pump; (b) a cable drive unit insertable into and removable from a hollow space formed by the stator of an elector motor without disassembly of said motor said cable drive unit including a rotor for said motor; (c) a cable sheath connecting said blood pump and said cable drive unit in fluid tight relationship; and (d) a flexible drive cable operatively connecting said motor rotor and the rotor of said blood pump; (e) said drive cable extending through said cable sheath, and said cable sheath forming a fluid conduit for conveying fluid between said cable drive unit and said blood pump.
Claim 15
Dependent Claim
114 words
A disposable, sterilizable intravascular axial flow blood pump assembly, comprising: (a) a blood pump; (b) a cable drive unit insertable into and removable from a hollow space formed by the stator of an elector motor without disassembly of said motor said cable drive unit including a rotor for said motor; (c) a cable sheath connecting said blood pump and said cable drive unit in fluid tight relationship; and (d) a flexible drive cable operatively connecting said motor rotor and the rotor of said blood pump; (e) said drive cable extending through said cable sheath, and said cable sheath forming a fluid conduit for conveying fluid between said cable drive unit and said blood pump.
Claim 16
Dependent Claim
169 words
A disposable, sterilizable intravascular axial flow blood pump assembly, comprising: (a) a blood pump; (b) a cable drive unit removable insertable into a hollow space formed by the stator of an electric motor, said cable drive unit including a rotor for said motor; (c) a cable sheath connecting said blood pump and said cable drive unit in fluid tight relationship; and (d) a flexible drive cable operatively connecting said motor rotor and the rotor of said blood pump; (e) said drive cable extending through said cable sheath, and said cable sheath forming a fluid conduit for conveying fluid between said cable drive unit and said blood pump; and (f) said cable sheath having a pair of lumens, one of said lumens forming a fluid path for conveying purge fluid from said cable drive unit to said blood pump, the other of said lumens forming a fluid path for conveying flushing fluid from said blood pump to said cable drive unit, and said drive cable extending through said other lumen.
Claim 17
Dependent Claim
169 words
A disposable, sterilizable intravascular axial flow blood pump assembly, comprising: (a) a blood pump; (b) a cable drive unit removable insertable into a hollow space formed by the stator of an electric motor, said cable drive unit including a rotor for said motor; (c) a cable sheath connecting said blood pump and said cable drive unit in fluid tight relationship; and (d) a flexible drive cable operatively connecting said motor rotor and the rotor of said blood pump; (e) said drive cable extending through said cable sheath, and said cable sheath forming a fluid conduit for conveying fluid between said cable drive unit and said blood pump; and (f) said cable sheath having a pair of lumens, one of said lumens forming a fluid path for conveying purge fluid from said cable drive unit to said blood pump, the other of said lumens forming a fluid path for conveying flushing fluid from said blood pump to said cable drive unit, and said drive cable extending through said other lumen.
Claim 18
Dependent Claim
12 words
The assembly of claim 13, in which said lumens are substantially concentric.
Claim 19
Dependent Claim
40 words
The assembly of claim 13, further including means for diverting a portion of any fluid flowing through said one lumen toward said blood pump into said other lumen at said blood pump for returning it to said cable drive unit.