Extracorporeal blood pump, heart-lung machine, method for operating an extracorporeal blood pump, and method for operating a heart-lung machine
Inventors
Assignees
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Publication Number
US-12569665-B2
Publication Date
2026-03-10
Expiration Date
Abstract
The present invention relates to a pulsatile positive-displacement pump with a flexible positive-displacement diaphragm which is operated pneumatically and by whose movement the blood is aspirated and displaced. A mechanical switching device in the interior of a drive unit ensures an autonomous operation of the blood pump, wherein no electricity or electronics system is needed.
Core Innovation
The invention relates to an extracorporeal blood pump for the aspiration and displacement of blood, having two blood chambers and a mechanical driving unit arranged between the blood chambers. Each blood chamber has a membrane that separates the blood chambers from a pressure chamber of the driving unit, wherein the driving unit comprises a gas inlet and a gas outlet, and is in operative connection with the membrane so that movement of the membrane effects aspiration and displacement of blood in the blood chambers.
The blood inlet channel and blood outlet channel of each blood chamber are at different positions of the blood chamber, and the blood outlet channels of both blood chambers are interconnected. An area between the membranes of the two blood chambers, or an area between at least one membrane and an effective surface, comprises a coupling rod, and the coupling rod transmits membrane motion to an effective surface. The described arrangement enables interaction between the two blood chambers through the interconnected outlet channels.
A backflow check valve is provided in a connecting area associated with the blood inlet channels, and the pump architecture is described in the context of alternating aspiration and displacement. The driving unit includes gas inlet and gas outlet valves and a switching device with switching end states, and in a switching end state either the gas inlet valve is open and the gas outlet valve is closed, or the gas inlet valve is closed and the gas outlet valve is open.
The invention is also described in the context of a heart-lung machine with an oxygenator, a dialyzer, and a filter. A key problem addressed is avoiding complex alarm and safety systems for limiting aspiration by using gas-pressure relationships rather than pressure sensors, and the pump is associated with thrombus prevention via washout, autonomous operation without electricity or electronics, and energy-efficient operation.
Claims Coverage
The document provides three independent claims. Across these independent claims, the inventive features focus on the pneumatic mechanical driving unit with pressure chamber and membrane separation, the spatial arrangement and interconnection of blood inlet/outlet channels between one or two blood chambers, and coupling-rod structures that transmit membrane motion and optionally include gas-flow routing features such as hollow spaces, valves, and bypasses.
Pneumatic mechanical driving unit separated by membranes with gas inlet and gas outlet
the driving unit is arranged between the blood chambers and has a gas inlet, a gas outlet and a pressure chamber, wherein the pressure chamber is separated from the blood chambers by the membranes of the two blood chambers, the driving unit being in operative connection with the membrane, and wherein an area between the membranes or an area between at least one membrane and an effective surface comprises a coupling rod
Two blood chambers with different inlet/outlet positions and interconnected outlet channels
the blood inlet channel and blood outlet channel of each blood chamber are at different positions of the blood chamber, the blood outlet channels of both blood chambers are interconnected
Coupling rod between membrane area and effective surface
an area between the membranes of the two blood chambers or an area between at least one of the membranes of the two blood chambers and an effective surface comprises a coupling rod
Gas-driven pressure chambers with two effective surfaces and coupling rod in a single blood chamber arrangement with non-interconnected inlet and outlet positions
the driving unit has a gas inlet, a gas outlet as well as two pressure chambers, wherein each pressure chamber has an effective surface, with the blood chamber being separated from the pressure chamber via the membrane, the driving unit being in operative connection with the membrane, and wherein an area between the membrane and at least one of the effective surfaces comprises a coupling rod
Non-interconnected inlet and outlet positions for a single blood chamber
the inlet position and outlet positions are not interconnected
Interconnected outlet channels and coupling rod with hollow space and bypass valve
the blood outlet channels of both blood chambers are interconnected, wherein the driving unit has a gas inlet and a gas outlet and a pressure chamber, wherein the pressure chamber is separated from a blood chamber by the membrane, the driving unit being in operative connection with the position of the membrane, and wherein an area between the membranes of the two blood chambers or an area between at least one of the membranes of the two blood chambers and an effective surface comprises a coupling rod, and wherein the coupling rod has a hollow space on the inside, and wherein the coupling rod has a valve constructed so that a designated gas flow can move through the hollow space in the coupling rod and further on through the valve in the coupling rod and out of a pressure chamber via a bypass
Across the independent claims, the core coverage is directed to a pneumatically driven extracorporeal blood pump in which gas-side pressure is separated from the blood by membranes, with interconnection and positioning of blood inlet/outlet channels between one or two blood chambers, and with a coupling rod located in membrane/effective-surface areas to transfer motion and, in one claim, to provide internal hollow-space routing and bypass via a valve.
Stated Advantages
Reduced thrombus formation via washout.
Energy-efficient operation.
Autonomous operation without electricity/electronics.
Avoids complex alarm and safety systems for limiting aspiration by using gas-pressure relationships rather than pressure sensors.
Documented Applications
Use in a heart-lung machine with blood routing through an oxygenator, a dialyzer, and a filter.
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