AU2011204807A1 - Artificial heart - Google Patents

Abstract

Abstract: The invention is the artificial heart whose purpose is to provide circulatory motion to the human bodies' venous system when the natural heart is incapable of performing this function due to injury or pathology. Said artificial heart is a two chambered blood pump that has within its assembly one chamber that surrounds another chamber; the two chambers separated by a diaphragm. Said diaphragm simultaneously operates both chambers as blood is pulled into and then expelled from said artificial heart. The driving mechanism for the artificial heart is the device also invented by the inventor which is subject to a patent application; refer magnetic coil stator, 2009903573 / 2010203073. FiG. 5

Description

EDITORIAL NOTE 2011204807 There are only 4 pages of description Description of the invention: The invention relates to cardiac surgery; specifically the artificial heart that is to be used to mechanically support the human bodies' blood circulatory system. The reason for said mechanical support within the human body may be various, among these the medical condition known as myocardial dysfunction. Medical implantation procedures of said artificial heart will not be disclosed in this description however it is noted that the powering of the artificial heart is described in another work by the same inventor; reference patent pending magnetic coil stator 2009903573, 2010203073. Said artificial heart is a two chambered blood pump designed in such a manner that one blood pumping chamber encloses the other and a diaphragm disposed between these two chambers reciprocating pumps oxygenated blood through one chamber and de-oxygenated blood through the other in such a manner so as to prevent the two groups of blood from mixing. Non return valves will be incorporated into the artificial heart set-up to ensure correct procession of blood through said artificial heart. All blood contact surfaces associated with said artificial heart are treated at manufacture stage to produce a surface that will promote endothelialisation of said artificial heart and thus suppress production of thrombi, Said artificial heart comprises a centrally located blood chamber 3,7 said blood chamber comprising a blood inlet tube 1 and a blood outlet tube 2 said tubes 1 and 2 allow for the passage of oxygenated blood through said blood chamber. Said centrally located blood chamber 3,7 comprises a diaphragm 11 said diaphragm 11 acts as the blood pumping membrane in said blood chamber 3,7 and in the outer and enclosing blood chamber 8,13 and in addition to this serves to separate both blood chambers 3,7 and 8,13 and allows for these chambers to pump blood in a reciprocating manner. Said blood chamber 3,7 comprises a mechanical joint 4 said joint 4 allows for movement of said diaphragm 11. Attached to said mechanical joint 4 is a membrane 6 said membrane 6 when in motion allows for suppression of blood flow eddy's in the de-oxygenated blood flow of the outer blood chamber 8,13 when said mechanical joint 4 is in motion. Said blood chambers 3,7 and 8,13 comprise parts of the said artificial hearts driving mechanism 9,10 which allow for the continuing movement of said blood pumping diaphragm 11 and the activation of said artificial heart (reference patent application magnetic coil stator 2009903573, 2010203073). Said outer blood chamber 8,13 comprises blood directing vanes 12 said blood directing vanes 12 act as blood flow direction devices which allow for efficient movement of blood through said outer blood chamber 8,13. Said outer blood chamber 8,13 comprises a vaned 12 inlet and outlet blood pathway 5 through which passes de-oxygenated blood. Said artificial heart pumps oxygenated and de-oxygenated blood through itself in such a manner that the two groups do not mix.

Said drive mechanism 9,10 produces movement of said diaphragm 11 and in so doing opens said mechanical joint 4. As said diaphragm 11 is moved toward drive mechanism part 10 and said mechanical joint 4 is opened oxygenated blood is drawn into said centrally located blood chamber 3,7 through said inlet tube 1, simultaneously with this action, de-oxygenated blood is expelled from said outer blood chamber 8,13 through said pathway 5 and across directional vanes 12. Said drive mechanism 9,10 automatically proceeds to move said diaphragm 11 away from said drive mechanism part 10 this action closes said joint 4 and expels oxygenated blood from said blood chamber 3,7 and allows for de-oxygenated blood to be drawn into said outer blood chamber 8,13 through said blood pathway 5 and across flow direction vanes 12. Said movement of said diaphragm 11 and consequential opening and closing of said mechanical joint 4 is a continuous and automatic action instigated by said artificial hearts drive mechanism 9,10. As de-oxygenated blood is drawn into and then expelled from said outer blood chamber 8,13 said blood is guided and directed by vanes 12 said vanes which are incorporated into the manufacture of blood chamber 8,13 ensure the correct passage of de-oxygenated blood through said outer blood chamber 8,13 and also assist with the reduction of blood flow eddy's that will form in the blood flow as it passes through said blood chamber 8,13 as said mechanical joint 4 opens and closes. As said mechanical joint 4 opens and closes high pressure blood is squeezed toward the exterior chamber wall of said outer blood chamber 8,13 and this high pressure blood needs to be controlled or it will interrupt the correct flow of blood into said outer blood chamber 8,13. To assist the reduction of eddy's and incorrect high pressure blood flow within the outer chamber 8,13 said mechanical joint 4 is fitted with a membrane 6 which is a circular flap membrane said membrane 6 distorts and disrupts the formation of said eddy's in the area immediately adjacent to said mechanical joint 4. Said membrane 4 prevents eddy formation in the blood flow near said mechanical joint 4 by producing a fanning motion as the mechanical joint 4 it is attached to is opened and closed. Although not incorporated into the design said artificial heart makes use of non return valves to assist in the pumping and progression of oxygenated and de-oxygenated blood through itself. Said artificial heart comprises a centrally located blood chamber 3,7 said chamber 3,7 enclosed by a second blood chamber 8,13 said chambers 3,7 and 8,13 separated from each other by a common diaphragm 11 and are manufactured from a synthetic man made material in such a manner that all surfaces associated with these chambers 3,7 and 8,13 and diaphragm 11 that have direct contact with blood will have a surface that is designed to promote endothelialisation and thereby reduce the occurrence of thrombi formation within the blood.

The construction of said artificial heart; excluding said drive mechanism 9,10, is cast and machined synthetic items which have chemical bond to each other to form the basis of said artificial heart. It is noted that device infection within said artificial heart is extremely unlikely as no areas that could conceivably trap bacteria are present and all chambers are filled completely with blood or other when the device is in service. During implantation of said artificial heart said drive mechanism 10 can be temporarily removed from the base of said blood chamber 8,13 to allow priming of the outer chamber 8,13 with a saline solution making said chamber 8,13 ready for its' intended roll. Said inner blood chamber 3,7 can also be primed with a saline solution thereby removing any air trapped in the chamber 3,7. Said artificial heart comprises a mechanical joint 4 said mechanical joint 4 is manufactured in such a manner as to allow continuous compression and expansion of itself. The material that comprises mechanical joint 4 is thinner than the chamber 3,7 to which it is permanently attached. Said inner blood chamber 3,7 and said outer blood chamber 8,13 continuously alter their respective blood holding capacity; this state comes about as a result of the common diaphragm 11 that separates these two chambers 3,7 and 8,13 continuously altering its' position within them and creating a reciprocating pumping action of blood from said chambers 3,7 and 8,13. It is envisaged that said artificial heart when implanted within the human body will occupy an area within the mediastinal region and said inner blood chamber 3,7 will by its' blood flow tubing 1 and 2 be connected to the pulmonary and aortic line of the venous system. Said outer blood chamber 8,13 will be connected through the tricuspid and semilunar line. It is envisaged that the natural heart will remain within the pericardium and mediastinal region and that said artificial heart will act as either a total artificial heart or a mechanical support to the venous system. Reference to the associated drawings figs. 1 to 5 shows said artificial heart with size proportions of the inner blood chamber 3,7 relative to the outer blood chamber 8,13 and the inlet and outlet blood tubes I and 2 and relative size of the mechanical joint 4 and membrane 6. It is noted that said artificial heart approximates the physical size of the natural heart it replaces or assists. The invention is further described in the following specification and drawings.

Description of the drawings: Fig.1 shows a simplified section view of the artificial heart displaying the blood chambers and the diaphragm that separates them. Fig.2 shows a simplified section view of the artificial heart displaying the blood pumping diaphragm in a raised position and the mechanical joint in a compressed state. Fig.3 shows an exterior top view of the artificial heart with inlet and outlet blood tubes associated with the centrally located blood chamber and the inlet and outlet vaned pathway associated with the outer blood chamber. Fig. 4 shows an exterior view of the artificial heart displaying the inlet and outlet blood tubes at top and part of the drive mechanism at the base of the outer blood chamber. Fig.5 shows a view of the inner blood chamber with the outer blood chamber removed so as to display the diaphragmatic pumping joint, inlet and outlet blood passage tubes and blood motion directing vanes.

Claims (12)

1. The artificial heart wherein said artificial heart provides circulatory motion to the human bodies' venous system.

2. The artificial heart of claim I wherein said artificial heart comprises two blood pumping chambers.

3. The artificial heart of claim 1 wherein said artificial heart comprises a blood pumping diaphragm disposed between two blood pumping chambers.

4. The artificial heart of claim 1 wherein said artificial heart comprises the same drive mechanism as patent pending magnetic coil stator 2009903573 2010203073.

5. The artificial heart of claim 1 wherein said artificial heart comprises blood flow directing vanes disposed within its assembly.

6. The artificial heart of claim 1 and 2 wherein said artificial heart comprises a centrally located blood pumping chamber enclosed by a second blood pumping chamber.

7. The artificial heart of claim 1 and 3 wherein said artificial heart comprises a blood pumping diaphragm that simultaneously pumps blood through two chambers as it moves.

8. The artificial heart of claim 1 wherein said artificial heart comprises a mechanical joint disposed within a blood pumping chamber.

9. The artificial heart of claim 1 wherein said artificial heart comprises two tubes disposed of within a blood chamber said tubes allowing the flow of blood into and out of said chamber.

10. The artificial heart of claim 1 and 2 and 5 wherein said artificial heart comprises a vaned pathway allowing the flow of blood into and out of a blood chamber.

11. The artificial heart of claim 1 and 8 wherein said artificial heart comprises a membrane disposed between the centrally connecting surfaces of the joint of claim 8.

12. The artificial heart of claim I wherein said artificial heart comprises a surface finish on all blood contact surfaces that promote endothelialisation.