US6616596B1
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Cardiac assistance systems having multiple layers of inflatable elements
Assignee: Abiomed Inc
•
Filing: 2000-11-28
•
Granted: 2003-09-09
•
Expires: 2020-11-28
Abstract
Abstract A unified, non-blood contacting, implantable heart assist system surrounds the natural heart and provides circumferential contraction in synchrony with the heart's natural contractions. The pumping unit is composed of adjacent tube pairs arranged along a bias with respect to the axis of the heart and bound in a non-distensible sheath forming a heart wrap. The tube pairs are tapered at both ends such that when they are juxtaposed and deflated they approximately follow the surface of the diastolic myocardium. Inflation of the tube pairs causes the wrap to follow the motion of the myocardial surface during systole. A muscle-driven or electromagnetically powered energy converter inflates the tubes using hydraulic fluid pressure. An implanted electronic controller detects electrical activity in the natural heart, synchronizes pumping activity with this signal, and measures and diagnoses system as well as physiological operating parameters for automated operation. A transcutaneous energy transmission and telemetry subsystem allows the Unified System to be controlled and powered externally.
Inventors
- 👤 Michael T. Milbocker
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-10-23 17:59
CPC Classifications
A; A61; A61M; A61M60/00; A61M60/80; A61M60/855; A61M60/871; A61M60/882; A61M60/10; A61M60/122; A61M60/165; A61M60/191; A61M60/20; A61M60/289; A61M60/40; A61M60/465; A61M60/468; A61M60/50; A61M60/508; A61M60/876; A61M2205/00; A61M2205/33; A61M2205/3303; A61M2205/82; A61M2205/8237; A61M2205/8243; A61M60/873
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 20
Claim 1
Independent Claim
68 words
A cardiac pumping unit comprising: a plurality of elongate inflatable elements each having a longitudinal axis; and a sheath defining a set of unit cells, each cell encompassing at least two elongate inflatable members; wherein said sheath nondistensibly secures said elongate inflatable elements in a substantially parallel position relative to each other and the inflatable elements are aligned in use along a line perpendicular to a heart surface.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
68 words
A cardiac pumping unit comprising: a plurality of elongate inflatable elements each having a longitudinal axis; and a sheath defining a set of unit cells, each cell encompassing at least two elongate inflatable members; wherein said sheath nondistensibly secures said elongate inflatable elements in a substantially parallel position relative to each other and the inflatable elements are aligned in use along a line perpendicular to a heart surface.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
60 words
The pumping unit of claim 1 , wherein said sheath has a length extending between a first and a second end and a width substantially parallel with said longitudinal axis, said sheath having inner and outer surfaces joined periodically along said length at connection points disposed between said inner and outer surfaces to form a contiguous plurality of unit cells.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
24 words
The pumping unit of claim 1 , wherein said sheath and said inflatable elements are each constructed of thin, collapsible, non-distensible, and biocompatible material.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
22 words
The pumping unit claim 1 , wherein said plurality of inflatable elements and said sheath are integrally formed in a single unit.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
32 words
The pumping unit of claim 1 , wherein said inflation elements have a top end and a bottom end, and wherein one or more of said top and bottom ends is tapered.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
26 words
The pumping unit of claim 1 , wherein said first end and said second end of said sheath are connected to form a paraboloid of revolution.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
51 words
The pumping unit of claim 1 , wherein said plurality of elongate elements are filled with a filler medium to a first amount and wherein the contractile force applied by the pumping unit is proportional to said first amount of a filler medium used to fill said plurality of elongate elements.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
50 words
The pumping unit of claim 7 , further comprising: at least one pocket interposed between inner surface of the sheath and the outer surface of the heart, the pocket adapted to be filled with a second filler medium at time of implantation to conform said pumping unit to the heart.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
24 words
The pumping unit of claim 8 , wherein said second filler medium comprises: a flexible, deformable substance that substantially maintains its volume when compressed.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
22 words
The pumping unit of claim 1 , further comprising: attachment device configured to prevent said pumping unit from unintentionally adjusting during operation.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
26 words
The pumping unit of claim 10 , wherein said attachment device comprises at least one gripping element to directly attach said pumping unit to the heart.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim
21 words
The pumping unit of claim 10 , wherein said attachment device comprises: means for tethering said pumping unit to the heart.
Claim 14
Dependent Claim
125 words
An implantable cardiac assist system for activating a cardiac pumping unit comprising: a pumping unit, adapted to be operatively coupled to a heart, for applying a contractile force to the heart the pumping unit further comprising: a plurality of elongate inflatable elements each having a longitudinal axis; and a sheath defining a set of unit cells, each cell encompassing at least two elongate inflatable members, the sheath being configured to surround a heart to provide operative coupling of the unit to the heart; an internal electronic controller programmed to generate activating signals to control the release of actuating fluid to the pumping unit and for subsequent synchronized evacuation of fluid from the pumping unit; and an external controller in radio communication with the internal controller.
Claim 15
Dependent Claim
125 words
An implantable cardiac assist system for activating a cardiac pumping unit comprising: a pumping unit, adapted to be operatively coupled to a heart, for applying a contractile force to the heart the pumping unit further comprising: a plurality of elongate inflatable elements each having a longitudinal axis; and a sheath defining a set of unit cells, each cell encompassing at least two elongate inflatable members, the sheath being configured to surround a heart to provide operative coupling of the unit to the heart; an internal electronic controller programmed to generate activating signals to control the release of actuating fluid to the pumping unit and for subsequent synchronized evacuation of fluid from the pumping unit; and an external controller in radio communication with the internal controller.
Claim 16
Dependent Claim
30 words
The implantable cardiac assist system of claim 13 wherein the system further comprises: an actuator for converting said actuating signal into a periodic movement of at least one valve member.
Claim 17
Dependent Claim
27 words
The implantable cardiac assist system of claim 13 wherein the system further comprises: a volume displacement chamber containing a energy converter and at least one fluid plenum.
Claim 18
Dependent Claim
26 words
The implantable cardiac assist system of claim 13 wherein the internal controller further comprises a data transceiver for receiving a data signal from the external controller.
Claim 19
Dependent Claim
26 words
The implantable cardiac assist system of claim 13 wherein the internal controller further comprises a data transceiver for transmitting a data signal to the external controller.
Claim 20
Dependent Claim
26 words
The implantable cardiac assist system of claim 13 wherein the system further comprises a sensor for sensing electrical signals capable of indicating reliably the cardiac cycle.
References Cited (Backward Citations)
US2826193A
Cited
US3371662A
Cited
US3464322A
Cited
US3455298A
Cited
US3587567A
Cited
US3613672A
Cited
US3659593A
Cited
US3674019A
Cited
US4340091A
Cited
US4048990A
Cited
US4157713A
Cited
US4192293A
Cited
US4304225A
Cited
GB2115287A
Cited
SU1009457A1
Cited
US4506658A
Cited
US4411268A
Cited
US4536893A
Cited
US4662358A
Cited
US4583523A
Cited
US4628937A
Cited
US4690134A
Cited
US4813952A
Cited
US5111818A
Cited
US4957477A
Cited
US4731076A
Cited
US4936857A
Cited
US4925443A
Cited
EP0583012A1
Cited
US4827932A
Cited
US5098369A
Cited
US4803744A
Cited
US5078134A
Cited
EP0370931A1
Cited
US4902291A
Cited
JPH02271829A
Cited
FR2645739A1
Cited
SU1734767A1
Cited
US5131905A
Cited
US5429584A
Cited
US5119804A
Cited
US5169381A
Cited
US5344385A
Cited
US5273518A
Cited
US5243723A
Cited
US5383840A
Cited
US5558617A
Cited
US5256132A
Cited
US5336254A
Cited
US5611085A
Cited
WO1994021237A1
Cited
US5348528A
Cited
US5848962A
Cited
US5704891A
Cited
US6179800B1
Cited
US5534024A
Cited
US5707336A
Cited
US5564142A
Cited
US5713954A
Cited
US6508756B1
Cited
US5800528A
Cited
US6224540B1
Cited
US6221103B1
Cited
US5853005A
Cited
US5702343A
Cited
US5971910A
Cited
US5741316A
Cited
US5991665A
Cited
US6200260B1
Cited
WO1999022784A1
Cited
US6179793B1
Cited
US5902229A
Cited
US6065154A
Cited
US5991925A
Cited
US6076013A
Cited
US6212430B1
Cited
USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows
| Annuity Stage | Window Opens | Payment Deadline | Surcharge Period Until | Estimated Fee | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3.5 Years (Year 4) | 2006-09-08 | 2007-03-10 | 2007-09-09 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 2010-09-08 | 2011-03-10 | 2011-09-09 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 2014-09-08 | 2015-03-10 | 2015-09-09 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |