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Researchers Submit Patent Application, "Methods, Systems, and Devices Relating to a Fail-Safe Pump for a Medical Device", for Approval

October 2, 2014
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By a News Reporter-Staff News Editor at Politics & Government Week -- From Washington, D.C., VerticalNews journalists report that a patent application by the inventors Cook, Martin (Eden Prairie, MN); Peters, Will (Auckland, NZ); Lafontaine, Dan (Plymouth, MN); Miller, Phillip J. (Berkeley, CA); Woodard, Steven Paul (Cupertino, CA); Hall, Gregory W. (Los Gatos, CA), filed on March 5, 2014, was made available online on September 18, 2014.

The patent's assignee is Sunshine Heart Company Pty, Ltd.

News editors obtained the following quote from the background information supplied by the inventors: "Various heart assist devices can be used to treat end-stage heart failure, including, for example, left ventricular assist devices ('LVADs'), intra-aortic balloon devices, aortic compression devices, and other counterpulsation devices, among others.

"Many of these assist devices are actuated by fluid pressure generated by a pump. In some cases, the pump is implanted inside the patient's body, while in other cases it is positioned outside the body. The pump provides fluid pressure to the device, thereby inflating the device, and then reduces the fluid pressure to the device, either actively or passively.

"One risk of these pressure actuated systems relates to possible deflation failure. That is, if the pump or the entire system inadvertently or unexpectedly fails during the inflation cycle, the inflated device remains inflated, which can result in injury or even death for the patient or damage to the device.

"There is a need in the art for an improved pump for use with heart assist devices."

As a supplement to the background information on this patent application, VerticalNews correspondents also obtained the inventors' summary information for this patent application: "Discussed herein are various systems and devices relating to displacement and gear pumps, each having at least one fluid transfer opening that allows some predetermined amount of fluid leakage to reduce fluid pressure in case of an unintentional or unexpected stoppage.

"In Example 1, an pump for a medical device comprises a body defining an interior, a displacement component disposed within the interior, a first chamber, a second chamber, a conduit, and at least one fluid transfer opening. The first chamber is defined by a distal portion of the body and a distal side of the displacement component. The conduit is in fluid communication with the first chamber and further is in fluid communication with the medical device. The second chamber is defined by a proximal portion of the body and a proximal side of the displacement component. The at least one fluid transfer opening defined between the first chamber and the second chamber

"Example 2 relates to the pump according to Example 1, wherein the medical device is an inflatable compression device.

"Example 3 relates to the pump according to Example 2, wherein the at least one fluid transfer opening is sized and shaped to allow the compression device to deflate within a time period ranging from about 10 seconds to about 30 seconds.

"Example 4 relates to the pump according to Example 2, wherein the at least one fluid transfer opening is sized and shaped to allow a maximum flow rate through the opening of about 2 cc per second.

"Example 5 relates to the pump according to Example 1, wherein the displacement component comprises a displacement wall.

"Example 6 relates to the pump according to Example 5, wherein the at least one fluid transfer opening comprises an opening defined in the displacement wall.

"Example 7 relates to the pump according to Example 6, further comprising a non-rigid coupling component operably coupled to the displacement wall and an interior wall of the body.

"Example 8 relates to the pump according to Example 5, wherein the at least one fluid transfer opening comprises a gap between the displacement wall and an interior wall of the body.

"Example 9 relates to the pump according to Example 5, wherein the at least one fluid transfer opening comprises a bypass chamber defined in the body.

"Example 10 relates to the pump according to Example 9, wherein the displacement wall is positioned adjacent to the bypass chamber when the displacement wall is in a deflation position.

"Example 11 relates to the pump according to Example 5, wherein the at least one fluid transfer opening comprises at least one slot defined in the displacement wall, wherein the implantable pump further comprises at least one projection shaped to fit within the slot.

"Example 12 relates to the pump according to Example 11, wherein the at least one projection is disposed within the at least one slot when the displacement wall is in an inflation position.

"Example 13 relates to the pump according to Example 1, wherein the displacement component comprises an at least one rotor.

"Example 14 relates to the pump according to Example 1, wherein the displacement component comprises a first rotor and a second rotor.

"In Example 15, an pump for a medical device comprises a body defining an interior, a displacement wall disposed within the interior, a first chamber, a second chamber, a conduit, a compliance chamber, and at least one fluid transfer opening. The first chamber is defined by a distal portion of the body and a distal side of the displacement wall. The conduit is in fluid communication with the first chamber and in fluid communication with the medical device. The second chamber is defined by a proximal portion of the body and a proximal side of the displacement wall. The compliance chamber is in fluid communication with the second chamber. The at least one fluid transfer opening is defined between the first chamber and the second chamber.

"Example 16 relates to the pump according to Example 15, wherein the at least one fluid transfer opening comprises an opening defined in the displacement wall.

"Example 17 relates to the pump according to Example 15, wherein the at least one fluid transfer opening comprises a gap between the displacement wall and an interior wall of the body.

"In Example 18, an gear pump for a medical device comprises a body defining an interior, at least one rotor disposed within the interior, a first chamber, a second chamber, a conduit, and at least one fluid transfer opening. The first chamber is defined by a distal portion of the body and a distal portion of the at least one rotor. The conduit is in fluid communication with the first chamber, the conduit being in fluid communication with the medical device. The second chamber is defined by a proximal portion of the body and a proximal portion of the at least one rotor. The at least one fluid transfer opening is defined between the first chamber and the second chamber.

"Example 19 relates to the pump according to Example 18, wherein the at least one rotor comprises a first rotor and a second rotor.

"Example 20 relates to the pump according to Example 18, wherein the at least one fluid transfer opening comprises a gap between the at least one rotor and an interior wall of the body.

"While multiple embodiments are disclosed, still other embodiments of the present invention will become apparent to those skilled in the art from the following detailed description, which shows and describes illustrative embodiments of the invention. As will be realized, the invention is capable of modifications in various obvious aspects, all without departing from the spirit and scope of the present invention. Accordingly, the drawings and detailed description are to be regarded as illustrative in nature and not restrictive.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

"FIG. 1A is a perspective view of a heart assist device system, according to one embodiment.

"FIG. 1B is a schematic view of the heart assist device system, according to the embodiment of FIG. 1A.

"FIG. 2 is a cutaway cross-sectional view of a positive displacement pump, according to one embodiment.

"FIG. 3 is a cutaway cross-sectional view of a positive displacement pump, according to another embodiment.

"FIG. 4 is a perspective view of a known roller screw drive system.

"FIG. 5 is a cutaway cross-sectional view of an internal gear pump, according to one embodiment.

"FIG. 6 is a cutaway cross-sectional view of an internal gear pump, according to another embodiment.

"FIG. 7 is a cutaway cross-sectional view of a known external gear pump.

"FIG. 8 is a cutaway cross-sectional view of an external gear pump, according to one embodiment.

"FIG. 9A is a cutaway cross-sectional view of a set of rotatable internal magnets of a motor assembly, according to one embodiment.

"FIG. 9B is a cutaway cross-sectional view of the motor assembly according to the embodiment of FIG. 9A.

"FIG. 10 is a cutaway cross-sectional side view of a positive displacement pump, according to one embodiment.

"FIG. 11A is a cutaway cross-sectional exploded perspective view of a portion of a positive displacement pump, according to one embodiment.

"FIG. 11B is another cutaway cross-sectional exploded perspective view of the positive displacement pump according to the embodiment of FIG. 11A.

"FIG. 12A is a top view of a positive displacement pump, according to one embodiment.

"FIG. 12B is a cutaway cross-sectional side view of the positive displacement pump according to the embodiment of FIG. 12A.

"FIG. 12C is another cutaway cross-sectional side view of the positive displacement pump according to the embodiment of FIGS. 12A and 12B.

"FIG. 13A is a cutaway cross-sectional top view of a positive displacement pump, according to one embodiment.

"FIG. 13B is a cutaway cross-sectional side view of the positive displacement pump embodiment of FIG. 13A.

"FIG. 14A is a cutaway cross-sectional side view of a positive displacement pump, according to another embodiment.

"FIG. 14B is another cutaway cross-sectional side view of the positive displacement pump embodiment of FIG. 14A."

For additional information on this patent application, see: Cook, Martin; Peters, Will; Lafontaine, Dan; Miller, Phillip J.; Woodard, Steven Paul; Hall, Gregory W. Methods, Systems, and Devices Relating to a Fail-Safe Pump for a Medical Device. Filed March 5, 2014 and posted September 18, 2014. Patent URL: http://appft.uspto.gov/netacgi/nph-...S1=20140911.PD.&OS=PD/20140911&RS=PD/20140911

Keywords for this news article include: Sunshine Heart Company Pty Ltd.

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