Total artificial heart system for auto-regulating flow and pressure balance

Abstract

The present invention provides a total artificial heart system for auto-regulating flow and pressure balance. In one embodiment the system comprises an atrial reservoir comprising inlets and outlets connectable to a mammalian cardiovascular system and at least first and second continuous pumps connected to the atrial reservoir. In further embodiments, the system comprises an atrial reservoir comprising at least two atrial chambers, and a means for transmitting fluid pressure between the atrial chambers. The means for transmitting fluid pressure include, but are not limited to a diaphragm, an interatrial window, a flexible membrane, a valve, a filter, or combinations thereof. In another embodiment, the means for transmitting fluid pressure comprises an implantable diaphragm comprising an outer rim attachable to biological tissue and a membrane anchored at its periphery by said outer rim.

1 . An artificial heart system comprising: 
 an atrial reservoir;    said atrial reservoir comprising inlets and outlets connectable to a mammalian cardiovascular system and;    at least first and second continuous flow pumps connected to said atrial reservoir.    
     
     
         2 . The artificial heart system of  claim 1 , wherein said atrial reservoir comprises a polymer.  
     
     
         3 . The artificial heart system of  claim 1 , wherein said polymer comprises polyurethaneurea, polytetrafluoroethylene, polyethylene, polycarbonate, silicone, or combinations thereof.  
     
     
         4 . The artificial heart system of  claim 1 , wherein said first and second continuous flow pumps comprise a first and second rotary centrifugal pump.  
     
     
         5 . The artificial heart system of  claim 1 , wherein said first and second continuous flow pumps each comprise a first and second rotary axial flow pump.  
     
     
         6 . The artificial heart system of  claim 1 , wherein said first and second continuous flow pumps comprise pressure sensitive impellers.  
     
     
         7 . The artificial heart system of  claim 6 , wherein said pressure sensitive impellers comprise angled vanes, curved vanes, flexible vanes, tapered vanes, round vanes, propellers, open impellers, closed impellers, screws, or any combination thereof.  
     
     
         8 . The artificial heart system of  claim 1 , wherein said atrial reservoir comprises at least first and second atrial chambers; 
 means for transmitting fluid pressure from said first atrial chamber to said second atrial chamber;    said first continuous flow pump connected to said first atrial chamber and;    said second continuous flow pump connected to said second atrial chamber.    
     
     
         9 . The artificial heart system of  claim 1 , further comprising a system for controlling said first and second continuous flow pumps.  
     
     
         10 . The artificial heart system of  claim 8 , wherein said means for transmitting fluid pressure comprises an interatrial window.  
     
     
         11 . The artificial heart system of  claim 8 , wherein said means for transmitting fluid pressure comprises a flexible membrane.  
     
     
         12 . The artificial heart system of  claim 11 , wherein said flexible membrane comprises a polymer.  
     
     
         13 . The artificial heart system of  claim 12 , wherein said polymer comprises elastomer, rubber, latex, silicone, poly(isobutylene), or combinations thereof.  
     
     
         14 . The artificial heart system of  claim 8 , wherein said means for transmitting fluid pressure comprises a filter, a valve, or combinations thereof.  
     
     
         15 . The artificial heart system of  claim 8 , wherein said means for transmitting fluid pressure comprises an electronic control system, a pump, or combinations thereof.  
     
     
         16 . The artificial heart system of  claim 8 , wherein said first and second atrial chamber are detached from each other.  
     
     
         17 . The artificial heart system of  claim 1 , wherein said atrial reservoir comprises at least two biological atria.  
     
     
         18 . The artificial heart system of  claim 17 , wherein said means for transmitting fluid pressure comprises a diaphragm comprising: 
 an outer rim attachable to biological tissue and;    a membrane anchored at its periphery to said outer rim.    
     
     
         19 . The artificial heart system of  claim 18 , wherein said diaphragm comprises a polymer.  
     
     
         20 . The artificial heart system of  claim 18 , wherein said means for transmitting fluid pressure comprises an interatrial window.  
     
     
         21 . The artificial heart system of  claim 20 , wherein said interatrial window comprises a flexible ring.  
     
     
         22 . An implantable diaphragm for auto-regulating flow and pressure balance in an artificial heart system comprising: 
 an outer rim attachable to biological tissue and;    a membrane anchored at its periphery by said outer rim.    
     
     
         23 . The implantable diaphragm of  claim 22 , wherein said membrane comprises a polymer.  
     
     
         24 . The implantable diaphragm of  claim 23 , wherein said polymer comprises elastomer, rubber, latex, silicone, poly(isobutylene), or combinations thereof.  
     
     
         25 . The artificial heart system of  claim 1  wherein said first and second continuous pumps are run in pulsatile mode.  
     
     
         26 . The artificial heart system of  claim 25  wherein said first and second continuous pumps are capable of alternating impeller rotational speed to produce pulsatile flow.