Heart failure recovery device and method of treatment

Abstract

A heart failure recovery device includes a fluid pump having an inlet and an outlet in fluid communication with a pump reservoir, and a pumping element disposed within the pump reservoir, the pumping element including a protrusion that in an active state is configured to rotate and move fluid away from the inlet and towards the outlet. A receiver coil can be electrically coupled to the fluid pump and is configured to subcutaneously absorb electromagnetic energy for powering the fluid pump. In certain embodiments, an implantable port provides fluid access to the pump reservoir for cleaning and maintaining the fluid pump. In other embodiments, a valve closes fluid access to at least one of the inlet and the outlet during periods when the device is not being used for treatment.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . A heart failure recovery device comprising:
 a fluid pump comprising an inlet and an outlet in fluid communication with a pump reservoir, and a pumping element disposed within the pump reservoir, the pumping element comprising a protrusion that in an active state is configured to rotate and move fluid away from the inlet and towards the outlet;   a receiver coil electrically coupled to the fluid pump, the receiver coil configured to subcutaneously absorb electromagnetic energy for powering the fluid pump; and   a valve configured to open in the active state and fluidly seal at least one of the inlet and the outlet in an inactive state.   
     
     
         2 . A system comprising the heart failure recovery device of  claim 1 , the system comprising:
 an external coil configured to send electromagnetic energy to the receiver coil for powering the fluid pump while the receiver coil is implanted subcutaneously.   
     
     
         3 . The heart failure recovery device of  claim 1 , wherein the pumping element comprises an impeller. 
     
     
         4 . The heart failure recovery device of  claim 3 , wherein the pump reservoir has a substantially circular cross-sectional profile. 
     
     
         5 . The heart failure recovery device of  claim 1 , wherein the valve is an iris valve. 
     
     
         6 . The heart failure recovery device of  claim 1 , wherein the is valve configured to fluidly seal the inlet in an inactive state, and wherein a second valve is configured to fluidly seal the outlet in an inactive state. 
     
     
         7 . A heart failure recovery device comprising:
 a fluid pump comprising an inlet and an outlet in fluid communication with a pump reservoir, and a pumping element disposed within the pump reservoir, the pumping element comprising a protrusion that in an active state is configured to rotate and move fluid away from the inlet and towards the outlet; and   an opening in fluid communication with at least one of the inlet and the outlet, the opening fluidly sealed by a valve that opens in the active state and closes in an inactive state.   
     
     
         8 . The heart failure recovery device of  claim 7 , wherein the valve is an iris valve. 
     
     
         9 . The heart failure recovery device of  claim 7 , wherein the valve opens and closes in a substantially radial fashion. 
     
     
         10 . The heart failure recovery device of  claim 7 , wherein the valve comprises a first valve and a second valve, wherein the first valve fluidly seals the inlet, and wherein the second valve fluidly seals the outlet. 
     
     
         11 . The heart failure recovery device of  claim 10 , wherein the first valve and the second valve are iris valves. 
     
     
         12 . A heart failure recovery device comprising:
 a fluid pump comprising an inlet and an outlet in fluid communication with a pump reservoir, and a pumping element disposed within the pump reservoir, the pumping element comprising a protrusion that in an active state is configured to rotate and move fluid away from the inlet and towards the outlet;   a port comprising a port reservoir and a port opening fluidly sealed by an elastomeric septum; and   a flexible conduit comprising a lumen;   wherein the conduit is coupled to the fluid pump and the port, and   wherein the port reservoir and the pump reservoir are in fluid communication via the lumen.   
     
     
         13 . The heart failure recovery device of  claim 12 , wherein a pressure actuated valve is disposed across a portion of the lumen. 
     
     
         14 . A method for treating heart failure comprising:
 implanting a heart failure recovery device at the apex of a left ventricle of a human heart, the heart failure recovery device comprising:
 a fluid pump comprising an inlet and an outlet in fluid communication with a pump reservoir, and a pumping element disposed within the pump reservoir, the pumping element comprising a protrusion that in an active state is configured to rotate and move fluid away from the inlet and towards the outlet; 
   detecting a first decompensation phase condition;   setting the fluid pump to the active state based on the detecting the first decompensation phase condition;   detecting a first stabilization condition; and   setting the fluid pump to an inactive state based on the detecting the first stabilization condition.   
     
     
         15 . The method of  claim 14 , wherein the fluid pump further comprises an opening in fluid communication with at least one of the inlet and the outlet, the opening fluidly sealed by a valve that opens in the active state and closes in the inactive state. 
     
     
         16 . The method of  claim 15  further comprising:
 detecting a second decompensation phase condition; 
 setting the fluid pump to the active state based on the detecting the second decompensation phase condition; 
 detecting a second stabilization condition; and 
 setting the fluid pump to an inactive state based on the detecting the second stabilization condition. 
 
     
     
         17 . The method of  claim 14 , wherein the heart failure recovery device further comprises a receiver coil electrically coupled to the fluid pump, the method further comprising:
 positioning an external coil in proximity to the receiver coil; and   causing the external coil to send electromagnetic energy to the receiving coil for powering the fluid pump.   
     
     
         18 . A method for treating heart failure comprising:
 implanting a heart failure recovery device at the apex of a left ventricle of a human heart, the heart failure recovery device comprising:
 a fluid pump comprising an inlet and an outlet in fluid communication with a pump reservoir, and a pumping element disposed within the pump reservoir, the pumping element comprising a protrusion that in an active state is configured to rotate and move fluid away from the inlet and towards the outlet, and 
 a port comprising a port reservoir and a port opening fluidly sealed by an elastomeric septum, 
 wherein the port reservoir and the pump reservoir are fluidly connected by a flexible conduit comprising a lumen, and 
 wherein the port reservoir is in fluid communication with the pump reservoir via the lumen; 
   advancing a tip of a port access needle into the port reservoir;   flushing a fluid from the port access needle into the port reservoir and the pump reservoir; and   withdrawing the tip of port access needle from the port reservoir.   
     
     
         19 . The method of  claim 18  further comprising:
 detecting a first decompensation phase condition; 
 setting the fluid pump to the active state based on the detecting the first decompensation phase condition; 
 detecting a first stabilization condition; and 
 setting the fluid pump to an inactive state based on the detecting the first stabilization condition. 
 
     
     
         20 . The method of  claim 19 , wherein the fluid pump further comprises an opening in fluid communication with at least one of the inlet and the outlet, the opening fluidly sealed by a valve that opens in the active state and closes in the inactive state.