Biological fluid pumping means and method

Claim 2

A biological fluid pumping means comprising: a bio-compatible tubular fluid conduit having a longitudinal axis, an inlet end, and an outlet end; a bio-compatible flow restriction means having an inlet side and an outlet side secured in the conduit, the flow restriction means resisting fluid flow from the outlet side to the inlet side; the conduit including a rigid tubular middle portion and expandable and contractible portions an opposite sides of the middle portion so that the middle portion can reciprocate a distance between the expandable and contractible portions; means immediately adjacent to the conduit for reciprocating the middle portion of the conduit generally along the longitudinal axis to produce flow of biological fluid through the conduit; and connecting means for putting a biological fluid into fluid communication with the inlet and outlet ends of the conduit.

Claim 3

The biological fluid pumping means of claim 1 wherein the conduit is made of a silicone-elastic material.

Claim 4

The biological fluid pumping means of claim 1 wherein the one-way flow restriction comprises a one-way valve.

Claim 5

The biological fluid pumping means of claim 3 wherein the one-way valve comprises a tri-leaf Kolff valve.

Claim 6

The biological fluid pumping means of claim 1 further comprising a second flow restriction means positioned stationarily with respect to but spaced apart from the flow restriction means generally at the outlet end of the conduit.

Claim 7

The biological fluid pumping means of claim 1 wherein the means for reciprocating the conduit comprises a magnetic mass secured to the conduit and means for producing a magnetic field for attracting the magnetic mass.

Claim 8

The biological fluid pumping means of claim 6 wherein the means for producing a magnetic field comprises an electric coil.

Claim 9

A portable means for pumping biological fluid comprising: a portable container means containing; a solenoid means including; a housing means having opposite open ends and a cavity between the opposite open ends; a tube means having a longitudinal axis, which is reciprocally movable in the cavity between a resting position and an opposite position along the longitudinal axis; a coil means for causing linear movement of the tube means from a resting position in a first direction through the cavity; a means for causing resilient linear movement of the tube means in a second direction opposite to the first direction through the cavity to bias the tube means to the resting position; the tube means comprising: a tubular member having opposite open ends; a magnetizable means surrounding at least a portion of the tubular member; a connection means between each opposite open end of the tubular member and stationary inlet and outlet conduits, the connection means being expandable and retractable during reciprocation of the tube means; movement of the tube means from the resting position in the first direction causing the one way flow resistance means to allow a volume of biological fluid to pass from inlet side to outlet side of the one way flow restriction means; and movement of the tube means in the second direction causing the one-way flow resistance means to move a volume of biological fluid on the outlet side of the one-way flow resistance means out of the outlet, to pump biological fluids so that reciprocation of the tube means in combination with the operation of the one-way flow resistance means causes accelerative and inertial flow of the fluid.

Claim 10

A portable means for pumping biological fluid comprising: a portable container means containing; a solenoid means including; a housing means having opposite open ends and a cavity between the opposite open ends; a tube means having a longitudinal axis, which is reciprocally movable in the cavity between a resting position and an opposite position along the longitudinal axis; a coil means for causing linear movement of the tube means from a resting position in a first direction through the cavity; a means for causing resilient linear movement of the tube means in a second direction opposite to the first direction through the cavity to bias the tube means to the resting position; the tube means comprising: a tubular member having opposite open ends; a magnetizable means surrounding at least a portion of the tubular member; a connection means between each opposite open end of the tubular member and stationary inlet and outlet conduits, the connection means being expandable and retractable during reciprocation of the tube means; movement of the tube means from the resting position in the first direction causing the one way flow resistance means to allow a volume of biological fluid to pass from inlet side to outlet side of the one way flow restriction means; and movement of the tube means in the second direction causing the one-way flow resistance means to move a volume of biological fluid on the outlet side of the one-way flow resistance means out of the outlet, to pump biological fluids so that reciprocation of the tube means in combination with the operation of the one-way flow resistance means causes accelerative and inertial flow of the fluid.

Claim 11

The portable means of claim 8 having a size comparable to a briefcase so that it can be carried by one person.

Claim 12

The portable means of claim 8 including an electrical power source means wherein electrical power is provided to the solenoid means by direct current impulses from a direct current impulse source connected to the electrical power source means.

Claim 13

The portable means of claim 10 including an alternating current source associated with the electrical power source means and a diode, wherein the direct current impulses are created by the diode which modifies an alternating current input from the alternating current source.

Claim 14

The portable means of claim 8 including supporting means to guide the tube means wherein the tube means follows a generally linear movement between stationary inlet and outlet conduits.

Claim 15

The portable means of claim 8 wherein the coil means is offset from the tube means along the first direction when the tube means is in the resting position.

Claim 16

The portable means of claim 8 wherein the means for causing resilient linear movement comprises at least one spring.

Claim 17

The portable means of claim 8 wherein the one-way flow resistance means comprises a one-way valve.

Claim 18

The portable means of claim 15 wherein the one-way valve comprises a Kolff tri-leaf valve.

Claim 19

The portable means of claim 8 wherein the connection means are made of a bio-compatible material.

Claim 20

The portable means of claim 8 further comprising a second one-way flow resistance means positioned within the stationary outlet conduit, the second one-way flow resistance means remaining closed upon movement of the impeller means in the first direction, and opening upon movement of the impeller means in the second direction.

Claim 21

A portable ventricular assist means for temporary maintenance of sufficient pumping of blood through a patient comprising: a portable carrying case; a pumping means inside the case, the pumping means including an inlet port and an outlet port for blood; connection means for putting tubing and cannula in fluid communication with the inlet port and outlet port; power means within the case for supplying electrical power to the pumping means; a tubular member having a longitudinal axis and which is linearly reciprocable along the axis; a magnetized piece attached to the tubular member; expandable tubular sleeves connected at first ends to opposite ends of the tubular member, and connected at second ends to stationary conduits which are in fluid communication with the inlet and outlet ports, the sleeves allowing linear reciprocation of the tubular member between the stationary conduits; one way valve means positioned within the tubular member; coil means positioned relative to the magnetized piece on the tubular member to draw the tubular member towards the inlet port and cause opening of the one-way valve means which electrically energized; bias means for restoring the tubular member to an original position and causing closing of the one-way valve means when the coil means is not electrically energized; the one way valve means reciprocating with the tubular member upon alternating periodic energization of the coil means to pump blood between the inlet and outlet ports.

Claim 22

A portable ventricular assist means for temporary maintenance of sufficient pumping of blood through a patient comprising: a portable carrying case; a pumping means inside the case, the pumping means including an inlet port and an outlet port for blood; connection means for putting tubing and cannula in fluid communication with the inlet port and outlet port; power means within the case for supplying electrical power to the pumping means; a tubular member having a longitudinal axis and which is linearly reciprocable along the axis; a magnetized piece attached to the tubular member; expandable tubular sleeves connected at first ends to opposite ends of the tubular member, and connected at second ends to stationary conduits which are in fluid communication with the inlet and outlet ports, the sleeves allowing linear reciprocation of the tubular member between the stationary conduits; one way valve means positioned within the tubular member; coil means positioned relative to the magnetized piece on the tubular member to draw the tubular member towards the inlet port and cause opening of the one-way valve means which electrically energized; bias means for restoring the tubular member to an original position and causing closing of the one-way valve means when the coil means is not electrically energized; the one way valve means reciprocating with the tubular member upon alternating periodic energization of the coil means to pump blood between the inlet and outlet ports.

Claim 23

The assist means of claim 19 further comprising cannula for insertion into the appropriate artery and vein in a patient, and corresponding conduits which are attachable to the inlet and outlet ports of the pumping means.

Claim 24

The assist means of claim 19 wherein the pumping means and coil means includes a solenoid means.

Claim 25

The assist means of claim 19 wherein the tubular sleeves are made of elastomeric material and are expandable and retractable.

Claim 26

The assist means of claim 22 wherein the tubular sleeves are made of a bio-compatible material.

Claim 27

The assist means of claim 19 wherein the bias means comprises a spring means.