U.S. patent number 3,874,002 [Application Number 05/287,062] was granted by the patent office on 1975-04-01 for pulsatile magneto-motive artificial heart.
Invention is credited to Waldemar Helmut Kurpanek.
United States Patent |
3,874,002 |
Kurpanek |
April 1, 1975 |
PULSATILE MAGNETO-MOTIVE ARTIFICIAL HEART
Abstract
A permanently implantable artificial heart utilizing a pulsatile
magneto-motive pump consisting of a pump chamber, which has two
cobalt rare-earth permanent magnets spaced apart relative to one
another so that unlike poles of each magnet face each other across
a predetermined gap, one electromagnetic coil, a ferromagnetic
piston and a hydraulic fluid. The complete heart consists of two
separate half hearts each having one pulsatile magnetic pump, an
atrium, a ventricle, respective valves and collapsible hydraulic
sacs. A dc pulse applied to the coil determines the pumping stroke
rate of the piston which forces hydraulic fluid in and out of the
collapsible sacs causing alternating positive and negative pressure
gradients in the atrium and ventricle of the heart, thus producing
with the help of one directional check valves, a one-directional
pulsatile blood flow circulation. The pumping mode of the pistons
is designed to act counter directional to each other whereby
generated torque forces are greatly neutralized. The total heart is
designed to duplicate the natural heart's pumping action by
emptying both ventricles simultaneously while the atria are in the
process of filling.
Inventors: |
Kurpanek; Waldemar Helmut (4
Duesseldorf 11, DT) |
Family
ID: |
26265829 |
Appl.
No.: |
05/287,062 |
Filed: |
September 7, 1972 |
Current U.S.
Class: |
623/3.22;
128/899; 137/527; 251/65; 310/28; 417/50; 417/412 |
Current CPC
Class: |
A61M
60/40 (20210101); A61M 60/892 (20210101); A61M
60/122 (20210101); Y10T 137/7898 (20150401); A61M
60/268 (20210101); A61M 60/148 (20210101); A61M
60/894 (20210101) |
Current International
Class: |
A61M
1/10 (20060101); A61M 1/12 (20060101); A61f
001/24 () |
Field of
Search: |
;3/1,DIG.2 ;128/1D,DIG.3
;417/412,413 |
References Cited
[Referenced By]
U.S. Patent Documents
Other References
"A Linear Oscillating Electromotor for Possible Application In an
Intrathoracic Artificial Heart," by W. Burns et al., Transactions
A.S.A.I.O., Vol. X, 1964, pp. 151-153. .
"Solenoid Design for a Prosthetic Heart," by D. Freebairn et al.,
Transactions A.S.A.I.O., Vol. X, 1964, pp. 166-170..
|
Primary Examiner: Frinks; Ronald L.
Attorney, Agent or Firm: Holman & Stern
Claims
I claim:
1. A permanently implantable artificial heart for pumping blood
around a circulating system, said heart having a left heart portion
and a right heart portion each heart portion comprising:
a casing having an upper part and a lower part;
at least one atrium chamber means disposed in the upper part of
said casing and having a magnetic one-directional inlet valve for
permitting blood to flow thereto;
at least one ventricle chamber means disposed in the upper part of
said casing and housing a magnetic one-directional outlet valve for
permitting blood to flow therefrom;
a semi-rigid chamber wall separating said atrium chamber means and
said ventricle chamber means, said wall having a magnetic
one-directional ventricle inlet valve to allow blood to flow from
said atrium chamber means to said ventricle chamber means, said
magnetic one-directional ventricle inlet valve, said magnetic
one-directional outlet valve and said magnetic one-directional
inlet valve forming a one-directional check valve system;
a first elastic diaphragm sac separating said atrium chamber means
from the lower part of said casing, said first elastic sac being
expandable into said atrium chamber means to substantially fill the
space therein;
a second elastic diaphragm sac separating said ventricle chamber
means from the lower part of said casing, said second elastic sac
being expandable into said ventricle chamber means to substantially
fill the space therein;
pump chamber means rigidly disposed in the lower part of said
casing;
reciprocating bistable electro-magnetic pumping means for
generating a reciprocating pumping motion, having an hydraulic
pumping medium and rigidly disposed in said pump chamber means;
means permitting said reciprocating pumping means to alternatively
pump said pumping medium into said first and second elastic
diaphragm sacs to fill said sacs and cause expansion thereof into
respective ones of said chamber means and thereby generate
pulsatable motion in said artificial heart which forces blood,
under the agency of said one-directional check valve system, in a
one-directional mode around said circulatory system.
2. An artificial heart as claimed in claim 1 wherein said pumping
means comprises:
at least two permanent magnets rigidly mounted in said pumping
chamber means so that the poles of one magnet face the poles of the
other at a given distance therebetween, said facing poles having
opposite polarity thus forming a closed ring flux field that cannot
be magnetized under a given operating condition;
ferro-magnetic piston means reciprocably slidable between the poles
of said permanent magnets;
electromagnetic coil means rigidly disposed between said permanent
magnets and operatively surrounding said ferromagnetic piston
means;
means for energizing said coil with an alternating dc pulse so that
said coil generates an alternating electromagnetic flux field to
cause said ferro-magnetic piston means to be continuously
magnetically polarized in opposite directions and thereby execute
said reciprocating pumping motion between said magnetic poles by
being alternately repelled and attracted therebetween.
3. An artificial heart as claimed in claim 1 wherein said means
permitting said pumping means to pump said pumping fluid into said
first and second diaphragm sacs comprises perforations in the wall
of said chamber means adjacent the separation of said atrium
chamber means and said ventricle chamber means with the lower part
of said casing.
4. An artificial heart as claimed in claim 2 wherein said permanent
magnets are of the cobalt rare-earth type.
5. A permanently implantable artificial heart for pumping blood
around a circulatory system, said heart comprising:
a casing having an upper part and a lower part;
first and second chamber means disposed in said upper part, each
chamber means capable of functioning both as an atrium and a
ventricle;
a chamber wall dividing said first and second chamber means and
preventing communication therebetween;
a first inlet and first outlet passage of said first chamber means,
said first inlet passage having a first magnetic one-directional
inlet valve and said first outlet passage having a first magnetic
one-directional outlet valve, said first inlet and first outlet
valves allowing blood to flow into and out of said first chamber
means respectively;
a second inlet and second outlet passage of said second chamber
means, said second inlet passage having a second magnetic
one-directional inlet valve and said second outlet passage a first
magnetic one-directional outlet valve, said second inlet and said
second outlet valves allowing blood to flow into and out of said
second chamber means respectively;
a first elastic diaphragm sac separating said first chamber means
from the lower part of said casing, said first elastic sac being
expandable into said first chamber means to substantially fill the
space therein;
a second elastic diaphragm sac separating said second chamber means
from the lower part of said casing, said first elastic sac being
expandable into said second chamber means to substantially fill the
space therein, said first magnetic one-directional magnetic inlet
and outlet valves forming a first one-directional check valve
system, and said second magnetic one-directional magnetic inlet and
outlet valves forming a second one-directional check valve system
of said artificial heart;
pump chamber means rigidly disposed in the lower part of said
casing;
reciprocating bistable electro-magnetic pumping means for
generating a reciprocating pumping motion rigidly disposed in said
pump chamber means and having an hydraulic pumping medium and at
least two permanent magnets rigidly mounted in said pump chamber
means so that the poles of one magnet face the poles of the other
at a given distance therebetween, said facing poles having opposite
polarity thus forming a closed ring flux field that cannot be
magnetized under a given operating condition; ferromagnetic piston
means reciprocably slidable between the poles of said permanent
magnets; electromagnetic coil means rigidly disposed between said
permanent magnets and operatively surrounding said ferro-magnetic
piston means; means for energizing said coil with an alternating dc
pulse so that said coil generates an alternating electromagnetic
flux field to cause said ferromagnetic piston means to be
continuously magnetically polarized in opposite directions and
thereby execute said reciprocating pumping motion between said
magnetic poles by being alternately repelled and attracted
therebetween; means permitting said reciprocating pumping means to
alternatively pump said pumping medium into said first and second
elastic diaphragm sacs to fill said sacs and cause expansion
thereof into respective ones of said first and second chamber means
and thereby generate pulsatable motion in said artificial heart
which forces blood, under the agency of said first and second
one-directional check valve system, in a one-directional mode
around said circulatory system.
6. An artificial heart as claimed in claim 5 wherein said means
permitting said pumping means to pump said pumping fluid into said
first and second diaphragm sacs comprises perforations in the wall
of said chamber means adjacent the separation of said atrium
chamber means and said ventricle chamber means with the lower part
of said casing.
7. An artificial heart as claimed in claim 5 wherein said permanent
magnets are of the cobalt rare-earth type.
8. A permanently implantable artificial heart for pumping blood
around a circulatory system said heart comprising:
a casing having an upper part and a lower part;
at least two chamber means disposed in said upper part and having
corresponding inlet and outlet passages for transporting blood to
and from each of said chambers respectively so that as blood is
entering one chamber it is simultaneously leaving the other;
a one-directional check valve system disposed in said inlet and
outlet passages for controlling and allowing the flow of blood in
one direction through said heart and into said circulatory
system;
a first elastic diaphragm sac separating one of said two chamber
means from the lower part of said casing, said first elastic
diaphragm sac being expandable into said one of said chamber means
to substantially fill the space therein;
a second elastic diaphragm sac separating the other of said two
chamber means from the lower part of said casing said second
elastic diaphragm sac being expandable into said other of said two
chamber means to substantially fill the space therein;
reciprocating bistable electromagnetic pumping means for generating
a reciprocating pumping motion rigidly disposed in the lower part
of said casing, and having an hydraulic pumping medium; at least
two permanent magnets rigidly mounted in said chamber means so that
the poles of one magnet face the poles of the other at a given
distance therebetween, said facing poles having opposite polarity
thus forming a closed ring flux field that cannot be magnetized
under a given operating condition; ferromagnetic piston means
reciprocably slidable between the poles of said permanent magnets;
electromagnetic coil means rigidly disposed between said permanent
magnets and operatively surrounding said ferro-magnetic piston
means; means for energizing said coil with an alternating dc pulse
so that said coil generates an alternating electromagnetic flux
field to cause said ferromagnetic piston means to be continuously
magnetically polarized in opposite directions and thereby execute
said reciprocating pumping motion between said magnetic poles by
being alternately repelled and attracted therebetween, whereby said
pumping means alternatively pumps said pumping medium into said
first and second elastic diaphragm sacs to fill said sacs and cause
expansion thereof into respective ones of said chamber means and
thereby generate pulsatable motion in said artificial heart which
forces blood, under the agency of said one-directional check valve
system means, in a one-directional mode around said circulatory
system.
9. An artificial heart as claimed in claim 8 wherein said
one-directional check valve system means comprises a plurality of
magnetically operable one-directional valves.
10. An artificial heart as claimed in claim 8 wherein said
permanent magnets are of the cobalt rare-earth type.
Description
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
The object of this invention is to provide a totally implantable
artificial heart having a long lasting, reliable, space saving
multipurpose pump, that by virtue of its novel construction serves
also as its own motor and valve. The reliability and life
expectancy of the magnetic pump is much higher than that of a
conventional motor and pump. The magnetic pump functions without
reduction gear, brushes, contacts, ballbearings, separate motor,
etc., to mention only a few advantages. The magnetic pump is a
bistable device staying in the on or off position without a holding
current or mechanical holding force thereby functioning
additionally as a valve. The pump motor is the pumping piston
itself and is the one and only moving part. Upon electric
triggering the pump starts immediately with full power. The cobalt
rare-earth magnets and the coil are fully encased so that only the
piston and the pumps cylinder come in contact with the pumped
medium. The magnetic pump functioning without brushes, contacts,
etc., and being fully encased can be operated in an explosive or
highly inflammable medium as well as in a vacuum with absolute
safety. The temperature in which it can be successfully operated
ranges from absolute zero - 270.degree.C to + 750.degree.C.
The operational durability of the magneto-motive pump depends to a
high degree on the magnets used.
Modern magnets of the cobalt with rare-earth element type such as
the cobalt samarium magnet which has a resistance to
demagnetization that is 20 to 50 times superior to conventional
magnets of the Alnico type show great advantages as the following
tabulation of properties indicates:
Cobalt Samarium Magnets Magnetic Properties: Coersive force = 9,000
Oersted Intrinsic coersive force = 25,000 Oersted Residual
induction = 9,000 Gauss Energy product, max. = 20 .times. 10.sup.6
Gauss-Oersted Curie temperature = 850.degree.C Temperature
coefficient = 0.02% per .degree.C Physical Properties: Specific
gravity = 8 g/cc Electric resistivity = 5 .times. 10.sup..sup.-4
Ohm-cm Mechanical Properties: Tensile strength = 8,000 psi
Compressive strength = 10,000 psi Flexual strength = 12,000 psi
The cobalt samarium magnet has been shown when exposed to a
demagnetizing field H of 9000 Oersted to retain its full magnetic
strength. In this invention the two magnets are facing with
complimentary poles, thereby creating a circular, fully closed ring
flux field with a coil set between them producing a mere few
hundred Oersted field strength, and opposing only one magnet at a
time while at the same time increasing the field strength of the
other magnet. The activation of the coil produces a magnetic flux
with the highest flux density within the piston. From the poles of
the piston the flux enters the opposite poles of the magnet thus
continually magnetizing one pole per piston stroke thereby holding
the magnets at their magnetic saturation point and preventing
possible degradation. A soft iron shield placed between coil and
magnets (also 12) permits a flow of magnetic flux on the outside of
the coil thus preventing the flux to enter the similarly poled
magnet.
Theoretically, should a field H of say 1000 Oersted temporarily
demagnetize some magnetic domains, then it would readily be
remagnetized as the field of 9000 Oersted plus the field of 1000
Oersted with an energy product of greater than 20 .times. 10.sup.6
Gauss-Oersted again fully closes the circular ring flux field of
the two nagnets.
In industry the cobalt-samarium magnets are used to focus
Travelling Wave Tubes where fields of 9000 Oersted are always
opposing.
This should prove beyond doubt that a mere 1000 Oersted field
cannot produce a degradation of field strength with time in this
application.
In the permanently implantable total artificial heart according to
the invention the pump exhibits ideal suitability to closely
duplicate the pumping action of a normal heart. Although it may be
theorized that a mechanical heart pump must not necessarily have to
function as a duplicate of the natural heart pump it does
nevertheless solve a lot of problems to adhere respectfully to the
modes of the naturally created pumping system.
The pulsatile magneto-motive heart pump has been designed to
duplicate the natural pumping modes of an actual heart very
closely.
It also consists of two atria and two ventricles of which both
ventricles are simultaneously emptied while the atria are in the
process of filling.
Moreover a simple but very reliable one-directional valve system
has been designed which together produce both the high and the low
pressure periods (systolic and diastolic) as found in the natural
heart's pumping action, thereby eliminating negative pressure
states in both atria due to the suction action of the ventricles as
found in designs omitting that principle. The check-valve system is
designed to give a natural one-directional pulsatile blood flow
circulation and it responds similarly as the natural valve system
to an increased blood pressure gradient which overcomes the
magnetic force of attraction of the valve flaps thereby opening the
valve. A reduction of the blood pressure gradient causes the valve
to close and remain closed against an increased blood pressure
gradient force in the opposite direction. Thus permitting a
one-directional blood flow circulation only. The valve flaps and
the elastic diaphragm sacs are constructed not to come in contact
with either the chamber walls nor with each other thereby
preventing hemolysis.
The atria are designed as large elastic blood reservoirs thus
providing for rapid ventricular filling. The large atria are filled
by venous pressure without the necessity of applying the negative
pressure gradient. The atria are designed to counter any negative
pressure gradient by collapsing slightly inward thus preventing the
propagation of the negative pressure gradient to the venous system.
The complete separation of right and left heart into two
independent units reduces the surgical problems considerably. Each
separate heart unit is individually controlled, thus permitting a
more detailed imitation of the physiologic stroke
characteristics.
The pumping mode of the pistons is designed to act
counter-directional to each other whereby generated torque forces
are greatly neutralized.
The hearts are shown with a induction coil for transmission of
electric energy through the patients chest and the battery for
storage. Should a superior power source be used such as possibly
the plutonium-238 isotope power source then of course there is no
need for the coil and batteries.
The hearts are designed to give the wearer a feeling of security
and confidence for should a diaphragm (sac) rupture and the
hydraulic fluid used be of a nature not harmful to the wearer's
system then the normal function of the heart would not be
interrupted. The hydraulic fluid would slowly be replaced by the
blood and a gradual hemolysis would occur.
By employing a different colour marking fluid in each separate
heart unit, say blue in one and green in the other, this would
indicate in which heart unit a diaphragm rupture occurred. For the
wearer there would be ample time to seek medical aid as with
additional blood transfusions many days could be bridged without
harmful effects. Unlike gas-driven heart pumps, air embolism cannot
occur because there is no gas present.
The primary advantages between the artificial heart using the pump
constructed according to this invention and other constructions
known from the prior art are simplicity, reliability, compactness
and functional life expectancy.
When compared with a natural heart the following characteristics
become evident:
Natural heart Magneto-Motive heart Circumference 25 cm Yes Breadth
9 cm Yes Length 15 cm Yes Weight 300 gr Possible (without
batteries, induction coil and hydraulic fluid) Output 5 to 10
litres/min Each side - yes Aortic arterial pressure 120-180 mm Hg
Yes Pulmonary arterial pressure 20-80 mm Hg Yes Pump rate 60-120
beats/min Yes Diastole 0.5 sec Yes Systole 0.3 sec Yes Ventricular
volume 120 ml Yes
A further embodiment of the invention envisages heart design which
bears such advantages as: one heart unit, less weight, lower power
consumption, smaller volume, etc. But as all things in nature it is
counterbalanced with the disadvantage namely that it pumps blood
alternatingly into the pulmonary circulation and with the next
stroke into the main circulatory system. Should this pumping mode
not prove detrimental to the human organism then it should possibly
be given priority. The embodiments disclosed are limited to two for
reasons of brevity, but it should be noted that a number of
different heart units may be designed within the scope of the
present invention. The pulsatile magneto-motive pump, motor, valve
used in the heart system has been successfully tested by the
inventor over a period of almost three years. The novel
construction of the closed ring flux field that continually
magnetizes the permanent magnets and the application of the
superior cobalt rare-earth magnets allowed this invention for the
first time to become functionally possible.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
A better understanding will be gained of the nature of the instant
invention from a study of the following detailed description
thereof taken with reference to the attached drawings wherein:
FIGS. A-1 and A-2 show the Pulsatile Magneto-Motive Pump in action
in the left heart of a Permanently Implantable Total Artificial
Heart according to one aspect of the invention.
FIG. B-1 shows a top view of the two chamber halves pumping
counter-directional thereby greatly neutralizing created torque
forces.
FIG. B-2 shows a magnetic one-directional blood flow valve.
FIG. C-1 shows a further embodiment of the invention where one
pulsatile magneto-motive pump serving as a complete artificial
heart where one heart chamber serves the function of both atrium
and ventricle and where a partition, the hearts septum, separates
left from right heart.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS OF THE INVENTION
The present invention functions due to the use of a novel
construction of a magneto-motive pump, which also functions as its
own magneto-motive motor and as a magneto-motive valve all these
functions being incorporated into one unit to form a permanently
implantable total artificial heart. The invention as may be seen
from the drawings, includes two cobalt rare-earth permanent magnets
(13) set at a distance apart so that the magnetic poles of one
magnet face the magnet poles of the other magnet having opposite
magnetic polarity thereby forming a closed ring flux field. The two
magnets are rigidly mounted into a piston chamber which also serves
as a magnetic sheild (8). At the magnets midsection an electro
magnetic coil (12) encircles the inside of the piston chamber. A
ferro-magnetic piston (11) slides between the magnets inside the
coil with two guide blocks (14) containing linear bearings on two
guiding rods (15). Compression springs (10) check the sliding
motion.
A dc pulse is provided which energizes the coil producing magnetic
lines of force which are perpendicular to the poles of the
permanent magnets. The highest flux density produced by the coil is
concentrated within the ferro-magnetic piston whereby the piston
becomes magnetically polarized. The piston is thereupon repelled by
like poles and attracted by unlike poles of the permanent magnets.
This action is reversed by a dc pulse of opposite polarity thus
resulting in a reciprocating motion of the piston between the
magnetic poles of the magnets respective to the alternating
electric pulse frequency.
The reciprocating motor motion of the piston between the magnets
(13) is utilized by the introduction of a piston rod thus resulting
in the formation of a Reciprocating Magneto-Motive Motor.
The reciprocating motor changes its function to a pump through the
introduction of a hydraulic fluid. The piston now pumps hydraulic
fluid in the reciprocation mode through the pump chamber.
The introduction of a magnetic one-directional check valve system
further results in the development of a one-directional pulsatile
pumping action. The piston after completion of a stroke remains in
a holding bistable position at the face of the magnets due to the
magnetic force of attraction without the necessity of mechanical
means or holding current until the subsequent dc pulse is
applied.
Additionally the introduction of a seal piston housing, a seal
piston contact surface at the magnets face and substituting the
piston with a valve sealing piston the pump functions as a Bistable
Pulsatile Magneto-Motive Valve.
FIGS. A-1 and A-2 represent therefore a Permanently Implantable
Total Artificial Heart according to the instant invention
comprising as two separate units the left and the right heart.
According to one embodiment of the invention each heart unit has a
magneto-motive pump, two elastic diaphragm sacs (1), one atrium
chamber, one ventricle chamber, three magnetic one-directional
valves and the encasing for the heart units. The pump forces
hydraulic fluid (4) through two perforated parts of the pump
cylinder (5) alternatively against the elastic diaphragm sacs (1)
into the atrium and out of the ventricle chamber. The atrium
diaphragm sac forces the blood through the magnetic one-directional
ventrical inlet valve (2) into the ventrical (FIG. A-2). The next
stroke fills the atrium through the magnetic one-directional
oxygenated blood inlet valve from the pulmonary vein and the
ventricle forces the blood through the magnetic one-directional
oxygenated blood outlet valve into the aorta (FIG. A-1). The stroke
characteristic is controlled individually or combined by a pace
sensor (6) built into the partition (3) below the ventricle inlet
valve and regulated by an electronic circuit (16) at the base of
each heart unit. To complete the system an induction coil (7) for
the transmission of electrical current through the wearers chest
wall and batteries (9) for the storage thereof are included.
FIG. C-1 represents in an alternative embodiment of the invention a
single heart unit where each chamber functions dually as atrium and
ventricle alternatively and being separated completely by a
partition, the hearts septum. Four one-directional magnetic valves
direct the blood flow. The pump corresponds to that shown in the
embodiment according to FIGS. A-1 and A-2.
FIG. B-2 represents a magnetic one-directional blood flow valve.
Two valve flaps open under an increased given blood pressure
gradient and close due to magnetic attraction when the blood
pressure gradient reverses. The valve flaps are plastic and contain
a permanent magnet (13) or soft iron piece which is magnetically
attracted by a permanent magnet mounted rigidly inside the outer
wall. The valve flaps are hinged and prevented from opening in the
other direction by a stopper block and concussion spring (10).
The valve flaps and the inner wall are covered by an elastic
diaphragm (1) preventing the blood from entering the magnetically
shielded compartment.
It should be understood that the present invention is not limited
to the embodiments disclosed but to present such modifications as
reasonably and properly come within its scope and as might be
suggested by one skilled in the pertinent art to which the
invention relates.
* * * * *