Valveless devices for pulsatile fluid flow

Abstract

Described are pumps structured for moving fluids with pulsatile flow. The pumps lack valves and pistons and provide pulsatile flow through the gentle rotation of a single, one-piece, sliding vane. The vane is situated inside a slot of a rotary cylinder positioned in a hollow central opening of a housing. Generally, the vane makes minimal contact with the walls of the housing. A gap positioned between the vane and the walls and provides pulsatile fluid movement through the pump with low shear stress on the fluid. Also described are fluidic systems connected to the pumps and methods of operating the pumps and systems.

1 . A valveless pump for pulsatile fluid flow comprising:
 (i) a housing with a central circular opening defined by a peripheral wall;
 an inlet in fluid communication with the central circular opening; and 
 an outlet in fluid communication with the central circular opening; and 
   (ii) a single vane within the central circular opening;   wherein the vane is configured to rotate about an axis offset from a central axis of the central circular opening without substantially contacting the peripheral wall of the housing.   
     
     
         2 . The valveless pump of  claim 1 , wherein the vane is a one-piece vane. 
     
     
         3 . The valveless pump of  claim 1 , wherein the vane comprises two ends, and wherein the valveless pump comprises a gap between each of the two ends and the peripheral wall. 
     
     
         4 . The valveless pump of  claim 3 , wherein the gap is about 10 μm to 5 mm long, as measured from a proximal vane end to the peripheral wall. 
     
     
         5 . The valveless pump of  claim 1 , comprising a motor operably connected to the vane. 
     
     
         6 . The valveless pump of  claim 1 , comprising an electric motor, an electromagnetic motor, a passive magnetic motor, or an active magnetic motor, hydraulic motor, or acoustic motor, operably connected to the vane. 
     
     
         7 . The valveless pump of  claim 1 , comprising a motor operably connected to a rotary cylinder comprising a slot wherein the vane is slidably received in the slot,
 wherein a central axis of the rotary cylinder is offset from the central axis of the central circular opening.   
     
     
         8 . The valveless pump of  claim 7 , the slot that runs from one side of a peripheral wall to an opposite side of the peripheral wall of the cylinder and through the central axis of cylinder and has shape that conforms to the shape of the vane. 
     
     
         9 . The valveless pump of  claim 1 , comprising a motor operably connected to a rotary cylinder. 
     
     
         10 . The valveless pump of  claim 9 , wherein the rotary cylinder is configured to rotate about a central axis of the rotary cylinder. 
     
     
         11 . The valveless pump of  claim 1 , wherein the vane has two ends and wherein each end is rounded. 
     
     
         12 . A system comprising the pump of  claim 1 , optionally two or more pumps of  claim 1 . 
     
     
         13 . The system of  claim 12 , further comprising an inlet port and an outlet port,
 wherein the inlet port is reversably connected to and in fluid communication with a fluid supply tube and the outlet port is reversably connected to and in fluid communication with a fluid exit tube.   
     
     
         14 . The system of  claim 13 , wherein the system is a closed system configured to provide circulatory fluid flow. 
     
     
         15 . The system of  claim 12 , wherein in use the pump, optionally each pump of the two or more pumps, is configured to provide constant fluid displacement volume in the range between about 5 mL and about 70 mL per revolution. 
     
     
         16 . The system of  claim 12 , wherein in use the pump, optionally each pump of the two or more pumps, is configured to provide fluid displacement at variable flow rates and variable fluid pressure. 
     
     
         17 .- 21 . (canceled) 
     
     
         22 . A method for pulsatile flow of an incompressible fluid comprising pumping the fluid through the pump of  claim 1 . 
     
     
         23 .- 34 . (canceled) 
     
     
         35 . A mechanical circulatory support device comprising a pump for pulsatile fluid flow comprising:
 (i) a housing with a central circular opening defined by a peripheral wall;
 an inlet in fluid communication with the central opening; and 
 an outlet in fluid communication with the central opening; and 
   (ii) a single vane within the central opening;   wherein the vane is configured to rotate about an axis offset from a central axis of the central circular opening without substantially contacting the peripheral wall of the housing.   
     
     
         36 .- 37 . (canceled) 
     
     
         38 . A method of mechanically supporting a ventricular or heart function in a subject comprising connecting a pump to the cardiovascular system of the subject,
 the pump comprising:   (i) a housing with a central circular opening defined by a peripheral wall;
 an inlet in fluid communication with the central opening; and 
 an outlet in fluid communication with the central opening; and 
   (ii) a single vane within the central opening;   wherein the vane is configured to rotate about an axis offset from a central axis of the central circular opening without substantially contacting the peripheral wall of the housing.   
     
     
         39 .- 47 . (canceled) 
     
     
         48 . The system of  claim 12 , wherein the system is an extracorporeal membrane oxygenation system or a cardiopulmonary bypass system.