# 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. - **Patent:** US 12736054 - **Original title:** Non-occluding intravascular blood pump providing reduced hemolysis - **Granted:** 2026 - **Status:** Active - **Times cited:** 0 - **Field:** biotech, medical_devices, mechanical, cardiovascular ## What it does 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 does NOT 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. ## 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) ## 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. ## Frequently asked questions ### What does A Tiny Blood Pump That Minimizes Damage to Blood Cells cover? 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. ### When does this patent expire? This patent is expected to expire on September 15, 2046, when the invention enters the public domain. ### What problem does this patent solve? 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. ### What does this patent NOT cover? Does not cover blood pumps that are designed to completely block the blood vessel where they are placed. **Full plain-English explainer:** https://patentbrief.org/patent/us/12736054/non-occluding-intravascular-blood-pump-providing-reduced-hemolysis **Original patent:** https://patents.google.com/patent/US12736054 --- _Source: PatentBrief — https://patentbrief.org. Patent facts are from public records; the plain-English explanation is PatentBrief's._ ## Related patents Semantically similar inventions in the PatentBrief corpus: - [How a Catheter Blood Pump Extends Its Tip for Guidance](https://patentbrief.org/patent/us/12734351/catheter-blood-pump-delivery-guiding-systems-and-methods-of-use) — This patent describes a tiny blood pump on a catheter that can extend a part of its tip forward, guided by a separate internal wire, to help it move safely and precisely inside blood vessels. - [A New Heart Valve That Replaces Old Ones Without Open Surgery](https://patentbrief.org/patent/us/12734030/prosthetic-heart-valve-devices-and-associated-systems-and-methods) — This patent describes a prosthetic heart valve that can be inserted without major surgery, using an expandable support and special arms to hold it in place within the heart. - [How Jarvik's Artificial Heart Uses Electric Motors to Pump Blood](https://patentbrief.org/patent/us/4173796/jarvik-artificial-heart) — A 1977 invention by Robert Jarvik that uses a reversible electric motor to power a hydraulic pump, enabling artificial hearts to mimic the natural pumping action of a human heart. - [How the First Heart-Lung Machine Oxygenated Blood](https://patentbrief.org/patent/us/2702035/heart-lung-machine-gibbon) — A 1955 invention that allowed surgeons to oxygenate a patient's blood outside the body, enabling the first successful open-heart surgeries. - [Removing Blood Clots from Brain Vessels with a Special Catheter](https://patentbrief.org/patent/us/12734333/rapid-aspiration-thrombectomy-system-and-method) — This patent describes a specialized catheter system designed to quickly remove blood clots from tiny blood vessels in the brain, often used to treat strokes, by using suction.