Low disturbance pulsatile flow system

Abstract

A flow system device used for testing/creating fluid flow. The system comprises at least one fluid filled loop and a rotor stage for maintaining at least one rotor. The loop is positioned on the rotor. The device also includes a driving motor for rotating the rotor stage and a motion controller for controlling the speed and directional motion of the motor.

What is claimed is:  
     
         1 . A flow system device used for creating fluid flow, said system comprising: 
 at least one fluid filled loop;    a rotor stage for maintaining at least one rotor, said loop positioned on said rotor;    a driving motor for rotating said rotor stage; and    a motion controller for controlling the speed and directional motion of said motor.    
     
     
         2 . The flow system device of    claim 1    further comprising a measurement system to record and calculate desired properties of the fluid within said at least one loop.  
     
     
         3 . The flow system device of    claim 1    wherein a vascular prosthesis is placed within the tube.  
     
     
         4 . The flow system device of    claim 3   , wherein said vascular prosthesis is a stent or graft.  
     
     
         5 . The flow system device of    claim 1    wherein the created fluid flow is bidirectional.  
     
     
         6 . The flow system device of    claim 1    wherein the loop includes a one way valve.  
     
     
         7 . The flow system device of    claim 1    wherein the system included six rotors with six corresponding fluid filled loops.  
     
     
         8 . The flow system device of    claim 1    wherein the fluid is blood.  
     
     
         9 . The flow system device of    claim 1    wherein the stents are coated with gold or stainless steel.  
     
     
         10 . The flow system device of    claim 1    wherein the fluid flow within the loop is controllable such that thrombotic signal is created.  
     
     
         11 . The flow system device of    claim 1    wherein the fluid flow within the loop is controllable such that the effects of background noise is minimized.  
     
     
         12 . A method of creating fluid flow, said method comprises: 
 providing a fluid flow system including at least one loop, a rotor stage for maintaining at least one rotor, the loop positioned on the rotor, a driving motor for rotating the rotor stage and, a motion controller for controlling the speed and directional motion of the motor;    filling the at least one loop with fluid which is to be tested;    controlling the motor to obtain the desired motion of the fluid within the tube;    measuring the desired effects of the fluid flow.    
     
     
         13 . The method of    claim 12    wherein the fluid flow system further includes a measurement system to record and calculate desired properties of the fluid flow within the loop.  
     
     
         14 . The method of    claim 12    wherein the fluid is blood.  
     
     
         15 . The method of    claim 12    wherein a vascular prosthesis is maintained within the tube.  
     
     
         16 . The method of    claim 15    wherein the vascular prosthesis is a stent or graft.  
     
     
         17 . The method of    claim 15    wherein the thrombotic effect of the vascular prosthesis on the blood is measured.  
     
     
         18 . The method of    claim 12    wherein the fluid flow is controlled such that the fluid flow begins, stops and begins to mimic the flow of blood due to the pumping of a heart.  
     
     
         19 . A connector for connecting opposing ends of a tube, said connector comprises: 
 a section of tubing to be positioned over the two opposing ends of a tube, and    an elastic sleeve to be placed over said section of tubing such that the two ends of the tube are in axial alignment.    
     
     
         20 . The connector of    claim 15    wherein the inside diameter of the section of tubing is approximately the same as the outer diameter of the tube.  
     
     
         21 . The connector of    claim 15    wherein the elastic sleeve provides radial compression on the section of tubing.