Interested in licensing this patent?
MTEC can help explore whether this patent might be available for licensing for your application.
Publication Number
US-10751519-B2
Publication Date
2020-08-25
Expiration Date
Abstract
A device for reducing pressure within a lumen includes a reservoir structured for holding a fluid therein, an injection port in fluid communication with the reservoir, a compliant body structured to expand and contract upon changes in pressure, and a conduit extending between and fluidly coupling the reservoir and the compliant body. The fluid may be a compressible or a noncompressible fluid.
Core Innovation
The invention relates to an implantable apparatus for improving compliance of a pulmonary artery in pulmonary arterial hypertension. The apparatus includes a subcutaneously implantable reservoir configured to hold a fluid and a conduit having first and second implantable ends that provide fluidic communication between the reservoir and a fully implantable compliant body.
The compliant body is configured to be implanted in the pulmonary artery and is coupled to the second implantable end of the conduit to provide fluidic communication between the compliant body and the conduit. A fluid disposed in the reservoir, conduit, and compliant body is pressurized such that the compliant body transitions between an expanded state and a contracted state responsive to pressure change in the pulmonary artery, with contraction during systole and expansion during diastole.
In related embodiments, the apparatus includes a balloon configured to be implanted in the pulmonary artery. The pressurized fluid transitions the balloon between an expanded state and a contracted state responsive to pressure change in the pulmonary artery, and an anchor anchors the balloon in the pulmonary artery, where the anchor comprises wire disposed in a lumen in the conduit.
Claims Coverage
The provided material includes four independent claims: an apparatus claim improving pulmonary artery compliance with a subcutaneously implantable reservoir and a T-shaped compliant body, a method claim corresponding to that apparatus, and two additional independent claims directed to a balloon-based apparatus with an anchor and a corresponding anchoring method. Across these claims, the core inventive features repeatedly include a reservoir/conduit and a pressure-responsive expanded/contracted state with systole/diastole operation, plus specific distal geometry or an anchored balloon with wire in a conduit lumen.
T-shaped compliant body coupled to a subcutaneously implantable reservoir and conduit
An apparatus for improving compliance of a pulmonary artery that includes a subcutaneously implantable reservoir configured to hold a fluid, a conduit with first and second implantable ends providing fluidic communication between the reservoir and a fully implantable compliant body, and a distal T-shaped compliant body with arms extending into branches of the pulmonary artery distal to bifurcation; the pressurized fluid causes transitions between expanded and contracted states responsive to pressure change, with contraction during systole and expansion during diastole.
Implanting a T-shaped compliant body and pressure-responsive systole/diastole cycling
A method for improving compliance of a pulmonary artery comprising implanting a compliant body within the pulmonary artery coupled to a conduit and fluidly coupled to a reservoir; pressurizing a fluid so the compliant body transitions between an expanded state and a contracted state responsive to pressure change, with a distal end having a T shape configured to form arms extending into branches distal to bifurcation; contracting during systole to move the fluid towards the reservoir and expanding during diastole.
Anchored balloon with wire in a conduit lumen and systole/diastole expansion-contraction
An apparatus for improving compliance of a pulmonary artery comprising a reservoir configured to hold a fluid, a conduit in fluidic communication with the reservoir, a balloon in fluidic communication with the conduit and the reservoir configured to be implanted in the pulmonary artery, and an anchor configured to anchor the balloon in the pulmonary artery, wherein the fluid is pressurized such that the balloon transitions between an expanded state and a contracted state responsive to pressure change in the pulmonary artery, and the anchor comprises wire configured to be disposed in a lumen in the conduit.
Anchoring a balloon with a wire anchor and pressure-responsive systole/diastole cycling
A method for improving compliance of a pulmonary artery comprising anchoring a balloon within a pulmonary artery using an anchor, with the balloon coupled to a conduit and fluidly coupled to a reservoir holding a fluid, the fluid pressurized such that the balloon transitions between an expanded state and a contracted state responsive to pressure change in the pulmonary artery, and the anchor comprising wire configured to be disposed in a lumen in the conduit; contracting the balloon responsive to pressure change during systole to move fluid towards the reservoir and expanding responsive to pressure change during diastole.
Overall, the independent claims cover implantable pressure-responsive compliant-body or balloon systems for improving pulmonary artery compliance. In the compliant-body variant, the distal T-shape forms arms into pulmonary artery branches distal to bifurcation with contraction during systole and expansion during diastole. In the balloon variant, a pressurized balloon cycles between expanded and contracted states responsive to pulmonary artery pressure, while an anchor with wire in a conduit lumen anchors the balloon.
Stated Advantages
Not explicitly described in patent.
Documented Applications
Not explicitly described in patent.
Interested in licensing this patent?