A Tiny Blood Pump That Minimizes Damage to Blood Cells

This patent describes a small, tube-shaped blood pump designed to fit inside a blood vessel, using a spinning fan to move blood without blocking flow and with special features to prevent damage to red blood cells.

What it covers

This patent describes an intravascular pump, meaning it works inside a blood vessel. It features a cylindrical housing, called a shroud, which has an inlet for blood to enter and an outlet for blood to leave. Inside this shroud, an impeller (like a tiny fan) spins, driven by a motor that sits in the very center, sharing the same axis as the shroud and impeller. Several pillars connect the central motor to the shroud, holding everything together. The key goal is to optimize various parts, like the inlet length, impeller shape, pillar angle, and outlet design, to reduce hemolysis, which is the breaking of red blood cells. For example, a patient with a weakened heart could have this pump temporarily inserted to help circulate blood with less harm to their blood cells.

What it doesn't cover

• —Does not cover blood pumps that are designed to completely block the blood vessel where they are placed.
• —Does not cover pumps that are used outside of a patient's blood vessels or body.
• —Does not cover pumps where the motor is not positioned centrally and sharing an axis with the impeller.
• —Does not cover pumps that do not specifically optimize design features to reduce blood cell damage.
• —Does not cover pumps that lack a cylindrical housing or shroud for the impeller.

The clever bit

The novelty lies in combining a non-occluding, intravascular pump design with specific structural optimizations (like inlet length, impeller design, and pillar angle) aimed directly at minimizing hemolysis. This focus on reducing blood cell damage through precise mechanical design is a significant improvement for patient safety and device longevity.

Why it matters

Intravascular blood pumps are critical for patients with heart failure or those undergoing complex procedures, providing temporary or long-term support for blood circulation. A major challenge with these devices is hemolysis, where the pump's action damages red blood cells, leading to complications. This patent addresses that by focusing on design features that specifically reduce such damage, potentially improving patient outcomes and allowing for longer device use.

Real-world examples

• 1.Temporary cardiac assist devices
• 2.Ventricular assist devices (VADs) for short-term support
• 3.Pumps used during minimally invasive heart procedures
• 4.Impella heart pumps (though specific design differs)