University of Utah Research Foundation

Yvo M Smulders

Willem J Kolff

James W Long

John W Holfert

Stephen R Topaz

N Dan Bishop

Donald B Olsen

Peter A Topaz

Long S Yu

Cornelis Verhoef

Dmitry M Golub

Paul D Diegel

Mark Stegeman

A total artificial heart for placement inside a living body comprising right and left ventricle enclosures, wherein each ventricle includes an exterior wall formed of (i) contacting wall structure and (ii) noncontacting wall structure which collectively enclose an interior volume comprised of a blood chamber and a pumping chamber. The contacting wall structure of each ventricle enclosure is configured for intercontacting relationship wherein the contacting walls of the respective ventricles form a septum which structurally separates the interior volume of the right ventricle from the interior volume of the left ventricle. The noncontacting wall structure comprises the remaining exterior wall of each ventricle enclosure. A fluid drive motor capable of reversible flow is positioned within and circumscribed by the septum and includes a flow channel therethrough which communicates between the respective pumping chambers of the right and left ventricle enclosures. A pumping fluid is contained within the pumping chambers and is responsive to the fluid drive motor to be reversibly transferred between the pumping chambers of the right and left ventricle to enlarge and contract the blood chamber and thereby simulate natural pumping action of the heart.

Electrohydraulic heart with septum mounted pump

A ventricle assist device for placement within a living body and including a self contained drive motor for generating pumping action with respect to a hydraulic pumping fluid. The ventricle assist device includes a ventricle having a blood chamber and a pumping chamber and an interconnect means coupled to the pumping chamber of the ventricle for receiving and displacing hydraulic fluid. A separate volume displacement chamber is attached to the interconnect means and provides a reservoir for excess hydraulic fluid for storage during diastole. A fluid pump and drive motor is positioned within the volume displacement chamber and connected at the interconnect means to supply the required pumping action for transfer of hydraulic fluid to and from the pumping chamber. Placement of the fluid pump and drive motor within the volume displacement chamber provides enhanced dissipation of heat from the energy conversion system and improved performance and durability.

Ventricle assist device with volume displacement chamber

Growing community of inventors

Amsterdam, Netherlands

Yvo M Smulders