Title:
ELECTROACTIVE POLYMER ACTUATED HEART-LUNG BYPASS PUMPS
Document Type and Number:
WIPO Patent Application WO2004031582
Kind Code:
A9
Abstract:
A pump apparatus, which comprises: (a) a tubular portion comprising an electroactive polymer actuator that expands and contracts an inner volume of the tubular portion based upon received control signals; and (b) a control unit electrically coupled to the electroactive polymer actuator and sending control signals to the actuator. The pump apparatus can further include at least one valve that is in fluid communication with the inner volume of the tubular portion. The pump apparatus can be used, for example, as a heart-lung bypass pump apparatus. Also disclosed herein is a method of providing circulatory support for a patent. The method comprises (a) providing the above pump apparatus; (b) placing an inlet of the pump apparatus in fluid communication with the venous side of the patient's vascular system; (c) placing an outlet of the pump apparatus in fluid communication with the arterial side of the patient's vascular system; and (d) sending control signals to the electroactive polymer actuator thereby pumping blood from the venous side to the arterial side of said patient's vascular system.
Inventors:
COUVILLON LUCIEN ALFRED JR
BANIK MICHAEL S
BANIK MICHAEL S
Application Number:
PCT/US2003/031254
Publication Date:
July 08, 2004
Filing Date:
October 02, 2003
Export Citation:
Assignee:
SCIMED LIFE SYSTEMS INC (US)
International Classes:
F04B43/00; F04B43/08; H02N2/00; (IPC1-7): F04B43/08; F04B43/12; F04B17/00
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