SYSTEM

TECHNICAL FIELD

The present invention relates to a method and system for a blood pump having sensors configured to measure the efficiency of the heart.

BACKGROUND

Implantable blood pumps used as a mechanical circulatory support devices or "MCSDs" include a pumping mechanism to move blood from the heart out to the rest of the body. The pumping mechanism may be a centrifugal flow pump, such as the HVAD® Pump manufactured by HeartWare, Inc. in Miami Lakes, Fla., USA. The HVAD® Pump is further discussed in U.S. Patent No. 8,512,013, the disclosure of which is hereby incorporated herein in its entirety. In operation, the blood pump draws blood from a source such as the right ventricle, left ventricle, right atrium, or left atrium of a patient' s heart and impels the blood into an artery such as the patient' s ascending aorta or peripheral artery.

However, after such devices are implanted, it is difficult to determine whether the diseased part of the heart is healing and functioning within normal parameters. That is, because the blood pump is assisting with pumping blood either from one part of the heart to another or from the heart to the lungs or the rest of the body, it is difficult to determine if, for example, the left or right ventricle is functioning normally or if it remains malfunctioning. For example, patients may undergo catheterization in a hospital setting to determine heart functionality, i.e. a PV loop analysis, however, such procedures are invasive and only provide a brief snapshot of the health of the heart.

SUMMARY

Some embodiments advantageously provide a method and system for a blood pump, including a housing including an inlet element, the inlet element having a distal portion coupled to the housing and a proximal portion sized to be received within at least a portion of a heart of a patient and a rotor configured to rotate within the housing and impel blood from the heart. At least one pressure sensor is coupled to the proximal portion of inlet element. In another aspect of this embodiment, the device includes a flange member at least partially disposed around the proximal portion of the inlet element, and wherein the pressure sensor is coupled to the flange member.

In another aspect of this embodiment, the inlet element defines a first diameter, and wherein the flange member defines a second diameter larger than the first dimeter.

In another aspect of this embodiment, the device includes an ultrasonic transducer coupled to the distal portion of the inlet element.

In another aspect of this embodiment, the ultrasonic transducer is coupled to the flange member.

In another aspect of this embodiment, the ultrasonic transducer and the pressure sensor are coupled to a microelectromechanical system ("MEMS").

In another aspect of this embodiment, the MEMS is configured to be adhered to the flange member.

In another aspect of this embodiment, the housing further includes a stator having a plurality of coils, and wherein the stator is configure to generate a magnetic force to rotate the rotor, and wherein the stator includes a plurality of conductors configured to couple with a power source.

In another aspect of this embodiment, the plurality of conductors are electrically coupled to the MEMS.

In another aspect of this embodiment, the MEMS includes a wireless transmitter, and wherein the ultrasonic transducer and the pressure sensor are in communication with a wireless transmitter coupled to the inlet element.

In another aspect of this embodiment, the device further includes a flange member at least partially disposed around the proximal portion of the inlet element, and wherein an ultrasonic sensor is coupled to the flange member.

In another embodiment, a method of measuring an efficiency of a patient' s heart includes inserting an inlet portion of a blood pump within a chamber of the patient's heart, the inlet element including at least one pressure sensor and at least one ultrasonic transducer. The pressure of the chamber is measured with the at least one pressure sensor. The volume of the chamber is measured with the at least one ultrasonic transducer. In another aspect of this embodiment, the method further includes determining an efficiency of the chamber of the patient' s heart based on the measurements of the pressure and volume within the chamber.

In another aspect of this embodiment, the blood pump further includes a flange member at least partially disposed around the inlet element, and wherein the at least one pressure sensor is coupled to the flange member.

In another aspect of this embodiment, the flange member includes a proximal and a distal end, and wherein the proximal end of the flange member is inserted within the chamber of the heart, and wherein the at least one pressure sensor is coupled to the proximal end of the flange member.

In another aspect of this embodiment, the at least one ultrasonic transducer is coupled to the proximal end of the flange member.

In another aspect of this embodiment, the blood pump includes a housing, and wherein the housing includes a stator having a plurality of coils, and wherein the stator is configure to generate a magnetic force to rotate the rotor, and wherein the stator includes a plurality of conductors configured to couple with a power source.

In another aspect of this embodiment, the at least one ultrasonic transducer and the at least one pressure sensor are coupled to a MEMS.

In another aspect of this embodiment, the MEMS is configured to be adhered to the flange member.

In another embodiment, a blood pump system includes a housing includes an inlet element, the inlet element having a distal portion coupled to the housing and a proximal portion sized to be received within at least a portion of a heart of a patient. A rotor is configured to rotate within the housing and impel blood from the heart. Two stators are included, each stator has a plurality of coils, and each stator is configured to generate a magnetic force to rotate the rotor and includes a plurality of conductors configured to couple with a power source. A flange member is disposed around a circumference of the proximal portion of the inlet element, the flange member includes a MEMS coupled to the plurality of conductors and adheres to a proximal surface of the flange member. A pressure sensor and an ultrasonic transducer are coupled to the MEMS. BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

A more complete understanding of embodiments described herein, and the attendant advantages and features thereof, will be more readily understood by reference to the following detailed description when considered in conjunction with the accompanying drawings wherein:

FIG. 1 is an exploded view of exemplary blood pump constructed in accordance with the principles of the present application;

FIG. 2 is front view of a portion of the assembled blood pump shown in FIG. 1 with a mounting element, flange member, and MEMS device;

FIG. 3 is a front view of the assembly shown in FIG. 1 with the MEMS device mounting to the MEMS device;

FIG. 4 is a Pressure- Volume (PV) loop of a cardiac cycle; and

FIG. 5 shows the device of FIG. 2 implanted within the left ventricle of the heart.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

As used herein, relational terms, such as "first" and "second," "top" and "bottom," and the like, may be used solely to distinguish one entity or element from another entity or element without necessarily requiring or implying any physical or logical relationship or order between such entities or elements.

Referring now to the drawings in which like reference designators refer to like elements there is shown in FIG. 1 an exemplary blood pump constructed in accordance with the principles of the present application and designated generally "10." The blood pump 10 according to one embodiment of the disclosure includes a static structure or housing 12 which houses the components of the blood pump 10. In one configuration, the housing 12 includes a lower housing or first portion 14, an upper housing or second portion 16, and an inlet portion or inflow cannula 18 which includes an outer tube 18a and an inner tube 18b. The first portion 14 and the second portion 16 cooperatively define a volute shaped chamber 20 having a major longitudinal axis 22 extending through the first portion and inflow cannula 18. The chamber 20 defines a radius that increases progressively around the axis 22 to an outlet location on the periphery of the chamber 20. The first portion 14 and the second portion 16 define an outlet 24 in communication with chamber 20. The first portion 14 and the second portion 16 also define isolated chambers (not shown) separated from the volute chamber 20 by magnetically permeable walls. The inflow cannula 18 is generally cylindrical and extends from first portion 14 and extends generally along axis 22. The inflow cannula 18 has an upstream end or proximal end 26 remote from second portion 16 and a downstream end or distal end 28 proximate the chamber 20. The parts of the housing 12 mentioned above are fixedly connected to one another so that the housing 12 as a whole defines a continuous enclosed flow path. The flow path extends from upstream end 26 at the upstream end of the flow path to the outlet 24 at the downstream end of the flow path. The upstream and downstream directions along the flow path are indicated in by the arrows U and D respectively. A post 30 is mounted to first portion 14 along axis 22. A generally disc shaped ferromagnetic rotor 32 with a central hole 34 is mounted within chamber 20 for rotation about the axis 22. Rotor 32 includes a permanent magnet and also includes flow channels for transferring blood from adjacent the center of the rotor 32 to the periphery of the rotor 32. In the assembled condition, post 30 is received in the central hole of the rotor 32. A first stator 36 having a plurality of coils may be disposed within the first portion 14 downstream from the rotor 32. The first stator 36 may be axially aligned with the rotor along axis 22 such that when a current is applied to the plurality of coils in the first stator 36, the electromagnetic forces generated by the first stator 36 rotate the rotor 32 and pump blood. A second stator 38 may be disposed within the second portion 16 upstream from the rotor 32. The second stator 38 may be configured to operate in conjunction with or independently of the first stator 36 to rotate the rotor 32.

Electrical connectors 41 and 43 (FIG.l) are provided on first portion 14 and second portion 16 respectively for connecting the coils to a source of power such as a controller (not shown). The controller is arranged to apply power to the coils of the pump to create a rotating magnetic field which spins rotor 32 around axis 22 in a predetermined first direction of rotation, such as the direction R indicated by the arrow is counterclockwise as seen from the upstream end of inflow cannula 18. In other configurations of the blood pump 10, the first direction may be clockwise. Rotation of the rotor 32 impel blood downstream along the flow path so that the blood, moves in a downstream direction D along the flow path, and exits through the outlet 24. During rotation, hydrodynamic and magnetic bearings (not shown) support the rotor 32 and maintain the rotor 32 out of contact with the surfaces of the elements of the first portion 14 and the second portion 16 during operation. A first non- ferromagnetic disk 40 may be disposed within the first portion 14 upstream from the rotor 32 between the first stator 36 and the rotor 32 and a second non- ferromagnetic disk 42 may be disposed downstream from the rotor 32 within the second portion 16 between the second stator 38 and the rotor 32. The rotor 32 is configured to rotate between the first disk 40 and the second disk 42 without contacting either disk. The general arrangement of the components described above may be similar to the blood pump 10 used in the MCSD sold under the designation HVAD by Heartware, Inc., assignee of the present application. The arrangement of components such as the magnets, electromagnetic coils, and hydrodynamic bearings used in such a pump and variants of the same general design are described in U.S. Patent Nos. 6,688,861; 7,575,423; 7,976,271; and 8,419,609, the disclosures of which are hereby

incorporated by reference herein.

Referring now to FIGS. 2-3, coupled to the proximal end 26 of inlet element 18 may be a pressure sensor 44 configured to measure the blood pressure within any one chamber of the heart. For example, the proximal end 26 may include one or an array of pressure transducers configured to measure the changing pressure within a particular chamber of the heart as the heart contracts and relaxes. In one

configuration the pressure sensor 44 is coupled to the most proximal end of the inlet element 18a without blocking the opening in the inlet element 18 and is received within the left ventricle, although the inlet element 18 may be at least partially insertable within any chamber of the heart. The pressure sensor 44 may be coupled a flange member 46 (FIG. 3) as described in U.S. Patent Application No. 15/471,575, the entirety of which is incorporated by reference, which functions to prevent thrombus from entering the inlet 18. The flange member 46 is configured to be coupled to the proximal end of the inlet element 18 and defines a larger diameter to that of the inlet element 18. The most proximal end of the flange member 46, that is, the surface of the flange member 46 that is facing the interior of the particular chamber in which it is inserted. An ultrasound transducer 48 may further be coupled to the proximal end 26 inlet element 18 or the flange member 46. The ultrasound transducer 48 may include one or an array of ultrasound transducers configured to measure the volume within a chamber of the heart as the heart contracts and relaxes. In one configuration, a microelectromechanical system (MEMS) device 50 may be adhered to or otherwise coupled to the surface of the flange member 46 and the pressure sensor 44 and the ultrasonic transducer 48 may be integrated as arrays into the surface of the MEMS device 50. For example, the MEMS device 50 may be a sticker that is adhered to the flange member 46 or alternatively may be attached or etched into the surface the flange member. The MEMS device 50 may be coupled to an independent voltage source (not shown) or the voltage source configured to power the pump 10, and may further include a wireless transmitter and receiver (not shown) such that information measured by the ultrasonic transducer 48 and/or the pressure sensor 40 may be transmitted to a remote controller outside of the patient.

In an exemplary configuration, the most proximal end 26 of the inlet element 18 is inserted within the left ventricle of the patient. The flange member 46 may be positioned on the proximal end 26 as described U.S. Patent Application No.

15/471,575 discussed above. The MEMS device 50 may be adhered to the flange member 46 prior to affixation to the inlet element 18. The pressure sensor 44 and the ultrasonic transducer 48 be in the form of independently activated sensors in an array such that multiple measurements along multiple vectors may be measured. For example, pressure sensors 44 may be included on the MEMS device 50 or directly on the flange member 46. As the measured pressure may be variable during the diastole and systole cycle and variable based on the position of the sensor 44 with respect to the chamber, the MEMS device 50 may be configured to individually activate sensors 44 of the array on the MEMS device to make multiple measurements either simultaneously or sequentially. Similarly, the ultrasonic transducer 48 may be in the form of an array of ultrasonic transducers 48 facing different directions on the MEMS device 50 to create different vectors of measurement within the left ventricle, for example. For example, owing to the position of the ultrasonic transducer 48 on the MEMS device 50 when implants within the left ventricle and owing to the shape of the left ventricle, to measure the volume of the left ventricle the array of ultrasonic transducers 48 may be configured to sweep across the left ventricle, i.e. either having a scanning range or may be movable to angle themselves to measure the volume of the left ventricle. In one configuration, a first plurality of the ultrasonic transducers 48 may be timed to measure the volume of the left ventricle during systole and another plurality of the ultrasonic transducers 48 may be timed to measure the volume of the left ventricle during diastole. The combined pressure and volume

measurements may be used to produce a PV loop, as shown in FIG. 4, to measure the efficiency of the particular chamber of the heart in real time.

Although the above embodiments are described with respect to a dual stator system, it is contemplated that the above sensors may be used in the manner describe herein in axial flow pumps having a single stator as described in U.S. Patent

No. 8,007,254 and U.S. Patent Application Publication No. 2015/0051438 Al, sold under the designation MVAD by HeartWare, Inc., assignee of the present application. Moreover, the embodiments described above are independent from the type of pump. For example, the sensor array described above may be positioned on any supporting device configured to hold the pump either to the heart or within the heart. In one configuration, the sensor array may continue to work after the pump is removed and replaced by a plug for example, as the grommet/sewing ring implanted in the apex of the heart would remain in place.

Certain embodiments of the invention include:

Embodiment 1. A blood pump, comprising:

a housing including an inlet element, the inlet element having a distal portion coupled to the housing and a proximal portion sized to be received within at least a portion of the heart and a rotor configured to rotate within the housing and impel blood from the heart; and

a pressure sensor coupled to the proximal portion of inlet element.

Embodiment 2. The blood pump of Embodiment 1 , further including flange member at least partially disposed around the proximal portion of the inlet element, and wherein the pressure sensor is coupled to the flange member. Embodiment 3. The blood pump of Embodiment 2, wherein the inlet element defines a first diameter, and wherein the flange member defines a second diameter larger than the first dimeter. Embodiment 4. The blood pump of any one of Embodiments 1-3, further including an ultrasonic transducer coupled to the distal portion of the inlet element.

Embodiment 5. The blood pump of Embodiments 3 or 4, wherein the ultrasonic transducer is coupled to the flange member.

Embodiment 6. The blood pump of Embodiment 5, wherein the ultrasonic transducer and the pressure sensor are coupled to a microelectromechanical system ("MEMS"). Embodiment 7. The blood pump of Embodiment 6, wherein the MEMS is configured to be adhered to the flange member.

Embodiment 8. The blood pump of Embodiment 1, wherein the housing further includes a stator having a plurality of coils, and wherein the stator is configure to generate a magnetic force to rotate the rotor, and wherein the stator includes a plurality of conductors configured to couple with a power source.

Embodiment 9. The blood pump of Embodiment 8, wherein the plurality of conductors are electrically coupled to the MEMS.

Embodiment 10. The blood pump of any one of Embodiments 6-7, wherein the MEMS includes a wireless transmitter, and wherein the ultrasonic transducer and the pressure sensor are in communication with a wireless transmitter coupled to the inlet element. Embodiment 11. The blood pump of Embodiment 1 , further including flange member at least partially disposed around the proximal portion of the inlet element, and wherein the ultrasonic sensor is coupled to the flange member.

Embodiment 12. A method of measuring the efficiency of a patient's heart, comprising:

inserting and inlet portion of a blood pump within a chamber of the patient's heart, the inlet element including at least one pressure sensor and at least one ultrasonic transducer;

measuring the pressure within the pressure of the chamber with the pressure sensor; and

measuring the volume of the chamber with the ultrasonic transducer.

It will be appreciated by persons skilled in the art that the present embodiments are not limited to what has been particularly shown and described herein above. In addition, unless mention was made above to the contrary, it should be noted that all of the accompanying drawings are not to scale. A variety of modifications and variations are possible in light of the above teachings without departing from the scope of the following claims.