Another pioneer patent; 4173796, the Jarvik heart. This one is referenced by 5569156, dating back to 1979, assigned to US Govt. Lots of work was done on it, I am sure; seemed to have insurmountable problems. Some of the problems would relate to clotting-on-contact-with-foreign-surface, some to bruising of red cells (that must be an issue).
The WHRT VAD has a much better chance than Jarvik did.
Here is the abstract of the famous Jarvik patent:
Other References
The Development of an Intrapericardial Cardiac Replacement Phase II, by W. H. Burns, et al., Transactions American Society for
Artificial Internal Organs, vol. XII, 1966, pp. 272-274.
Primary Examiner: Frinks; Ronald L.
Abstract
Total artificial hearts and circulatory assist devices, including left ventricular assist devices. The invention relates to electrohydraulic energy
converter systems, whereby electric energy from a power source, which may be a battery or other source, is converted into hydraulic power
capable of actuating diaphragm, sack, axi-symmetric or other types of blood pumps.
11 Claims, 12 Drawing Figures
This invention was made with the support, in the form of a grant, from the Department of Health, Education, and Welfare, and the Government
of the United States of America is granted a royalty free non-exclusive license to practice the invention for its own purposes for the duration of
any patent which may issue therefrom. |
