Implanted Extracardiac Device for Circulatory Assistance

摘要

This invention is an implanted extracardiac device for supplementing blood circulation which comprises an implanted blood flow lumen, a blood flow increasing mechanism, and a control unit. Its design improves blood circulation when the blood flow increasing mechanism is operating, without hindering native blood flow when the mechanism is not operating. This device improves circulation without intruding on cardiac tissue or weakening the heart by completely supplanting cardiac function. Also, since the device allows native blood flow when the blood flow increasing mechanism is not in operation, it requires less power and can enable more patient mobility.

主权项

1. An implanted extracardiac device for supplementing blood circulation comprising:
at least one implanted blood flow lumen, wherein this implanted blood flow lumen is configured to be implanted within a person's body so as to receive blood inflow from a blood vessel at an upstream location with respect to the natural direction of blood flow, wherein this implanted blood flow lumen is configured to discharge blood into a blood vessel at a downstream location with respect to the natural direction of blood flow, wherein this implanted blood flow lumen has a longitudinal axis spanning from the upstream location to the downstream location, wherein this implanted blood flow lumen has a cross-sectional area through which blood can flow which is substantially perpendicular to the longitudinal axis, and wherein a minimum cross-sectional flow area is defined as the minimum unobstructed cross-sectional area through which can blood flow from the upstream location to the downstream location; a blood flow increasing mechanism, wherein this blood flow increasing mechanism is configured to be implanted within a person's body, wherein this blood flow increasing mechanism is configured to increase the flow of blood from the upstream location to the downstream location when the blood flow increasing mechanism is in operation by transducing electromagnetic energy into kinetic energy; and a control unit for the blood flow increasing mechanism.