Abstract: A heart assist device for insertion into the thoracic cavity of a patient comprises a double-walled jacket (10) adapted to enclose at least the ventricular portion of the heart (H), at least the inner wall (11) of the jacket being pliable to be able to engage the outer surface of the heart and move together with the walls of the heart, and the interspace (13) between the inner and outer walls of the jacket being closed and filled with a fluid which is easily displaceable within the interspace.
Abstract: A pump with a continuous inflow and a pulsating outflow comprises a first chamber and a second chamber with a passage between them and made at least partly from a flexible material. There is an inlet to the first chamber and an outlet from the second chamber. The passage between the chambers has a one-way valve permitting flow only in a direction from the first to the second chamber. A second one-way valve located at the outlet permits flow only in a direction out of the second chamber. The chambers are movably supported in a pump casing having a first and a second opening. The inlet is connected to and penetrates the first opening, and the outlet is connected to and penetrates the second opening. A drive arrangement reduces the volume of the second chamber to expel the pumped medium while simultaneously enabling the walls of the first chamber to increase the volume and permit the pumped medium to flow through the inlet into the first chamber.
Abstract: The invention relates to a holder for diagnostic and therapeutic devices fixed by vacuum. Vacuum is supplied by a hose or tube (8), in which one or several electrical conductors (7) for electrical power supply or signal transmission are drawn. The holder comprises a rigid backpiece (3), an intermediate elastomeric element (2), and the diagnostic or therapeutic device (1). The intermediate element (2) comprises a comparatively stiff sealing ring (9), which in a working state is supported against the skin by a sealing lip (13) and with its opposite side against the backpiece (3). The device (1) is rigidly connected to the backpiece (3), but the sealing ring of the intermediate element (2) is movable and, outwardly from the backpiece, slightly resilient (via resilient means 17).
Abstract: A holder for industrial use attachable by vacuum comprises a rigid backpiece (3), a flexible intermediate element (2), and a central distance-maintaining element (1). The intermediate element (2) comprises a comparatively rigid sealing ring (9) with a sealing lip (13), which in use abuts against the element held fixed and with its opposite side against the backpiece (3). The central distance-maintaining element (1) is rigidly connected to the backpiece (3). The sealing ring (9) of the intermediate element (2) is movably and outwardly resiliently biassed in a direction away from the back piece. When the side of the sealing ring with the lip is unloaded and the ring is pressed outwardly, a vacuum valve (14) is automatically closed by the intermediate element, which valve opens when the holder is pressed against the object held fixed whereby the holder becomes attached by the sucking action.
Abstract: A double pump adapted for use as an artificial heart includes two ventricle-simulating chambers that are provided with respective inlets and outlets having valves incorporated therein and that are separated by a common partitioning wall structure. The wall structure has sections that are driven away from each other to reduce the volumes of respective ventricle chambers and expel liquid from the chambers through the outlets. The wall structure can also move laterally in response to differences in pressure between the chambers and hence change the volumetric ratio between them. This ensures a balanced action between the two halves of the heart-simulating pump during a systole phase and a diastole phase. The link mechanism is actuated by a cord through a motor, although only in one direction in the pressure phase, and hence the aforementioned changed volumes are readjusted primarily through the pressure exerted by the inflowing fluid.
Abstract: A blood pump comprises an atrium chamber defined by flexible walls and having an inlet and an outlet, a ventricle chamber defined by flexible walls and having an inlet and an outlet, a passage communicating the outlet of the atrium chamber with the inlet of the ventricle chamber, a first one-way valve in the passage adapted to permit blood flow only from the atrium chamber to the ventricle chamber, and a second one-way valve in the outlet from the ventricle chamber adapted to permit blood to flow through the outlet only out of the ventricle chamber. The chambers are movably supported in a casing having first and second openings, the atrium chamber inlet being fastened to the first opening and the ventricle chamber outlet to the second opening. A drive device cyclically moves the walls of the ventricle chamber to decrease its volume and expel blood from it while simultaneously moving the walls of the atrium chamber such that its volume may increase upon inflow of blood into the inlet to it.
Abstract: An electrode for electrocardiographic examinations comprises a substantially rigid back piece, an electrode plate joined substantially non-movably to the back piece and a resiliently deformable sealing component interposed between the electrode plate and the back piece. When the electrode is not applied to the patient, flow of ambient air to a vacuum chamber in the back piece is blocked or restricted. Upon applying the electrode to the patient's skin, an outer sealing rim in engagement with the patient's skin forms a seal between the patient's skin and the back piece, thereby to define a vacuum chamber between the back piece and the patient's skin. The vacuum holds the electrode plate firmly in engagement with the patient's skin.