Abstract: A medical infusion pump for use in conjunction with a valved elastomeric pumping chamber. The pump comprises a pair of clamp elements between which the pumping chamber is located and one of the clamp elements is movable relative to the other to effect cyclic compression and expansion of the pumping chamber. The movable clamp element is constituted by an extension of a solenoid armature and such clamp element moves in a direction away from the fixed clamp element, to permit expansion of the pumping chamber, when the solenoid is energized. A compression spring acts against the solenoid armature and serves to bias the movable clamp element in a closing direction when the solenoid is de-energized, whereby a compressive force is applied to the pumping chamber. An electric motor is coupled to the spring by way of a motion translating mechanism and, when energized, the motor functions to change the effective length of the spring and, hence, the biasing force exerted on the movable clamp element.

Abstract: A pump for driving a liquid, particularly liquid helium, has an electromatic drive contained in its entirety in the pump housing for generating an axially oriented force to reciprocate the pumping member. The electromagnetic drive has a stationary electromagnet supported in the pump housing and including an annular air gap and an energizing solenoid for generating a magnetic flux in the air gap. The electromagnetic drive further has a coil carrier attached to the pumping member to move therewith as a unit; the coil carrier has a travelling path passing through the air gap and being parallel to the pump axis. Further, a moving coil is mounted on the coil carrier for traversing the magnetic flux in the air gap, whereby an electromagnetic force parallel to the pump axis is exerted on the moving coil for displacing the moving coil, the coil carrier and the pumping member as a unit.

Abstract: A pump is described in which a flexible enclosure defines a pump chamber and in which the contents of the pump chamber are expelled by movement of a pair of opposed pusher elements engaged with the enclosure. The pusher elements are displaced by at least one pair of beam springs, each of which is pivotally supported at one end and is engaged with one of the pusher elements at the other end. The ends of the beam springs opposite the pusher elements are pivoted by actuation of symmetrical solenoid armatures, causing each of the springs to be stressed. Relief of the spring stress forces the pusher elements toward each other. De-energization of the solenoid armatures permits the beam springs to pivot back to the original position upon filling of the pump chamber.

Abstract: A pump includes a pump housing defining a pumping chamber and having two opposite end walls and a piston arranged in the pumping chamber for alternating motion towards and away from the end walls for drawing a cryogenic liquid into and driving it out of the pumping chamber. There are further provided first and second superconducting energizing coils mounted on respective end walls for generating a radial electromagnetic field in the pumping chamber. The energizing coils are coaxial with the piston axis. A superconducting control coil is fixedly mounted on the piston for generating a further magnetic field in the pumping chamber. The control coil is coaxial with the piston axis. The energizing coils and the control coil form part of an electromagnetic drive for generating, in the pumping chamber, an electromagnetic force which propels the piston back and forth between the end walls. Further, a bellows is affixed to peripheral regions of the piston and to the end walls for enclosing the pumping chamber.

Abstract: A method of treating material in a vessel includes the steps of vibrating the vessel to produce oscillatory displacement of the vessel wall; and transmitting such displacement to material in the vessel. The vessel may comprise a tube having a tuned cavity in which material is treated; or the vessel may contain relatively movable solid bodies to which the vibration is transmitted to grind or emulsify material flowing between the bodies; or, the vessel may contain a pumping member to which vibration is transmitted to cause material pumping displacement of that member.

Abstract: Facsimile transceiver apparatus for operating in both transmission and reception modes is disclosed which features a disposable ink jet printer apparatus comprising a reservoir, dual peristaltic pumps for supplying of ink to the jet for priming and purging and for supplying a vacuum to the vicinity of the orifice of the jet for catching any purged material and the jet itself is disclosed. The pumps are peristaltic pumps of the type in which resilient tubes are progressively compressed along their axial length whereby a pressure differential is produced across the ends of the tubes. A first such pump is used to provide priming and purging ink to the jet and a second is used to provide a vacuum in the vicinity of the orifice of the jet. The entire assembly is unitary and self-contained so as to be readily replaceable in the event of any difficulty with its operation or of the consumption of all the ink contained within the reservoir.

Abstract: A valved compressible state of the art Dacron shunt is sutured to the left atrium and to the descending thoracic aorta. One ferromagnetic and one diamagnetic shunt compression plate is positioned on one side of the shunt with the two plates in opposing relationship. A state of the art electromagnet and synchronizing mechanism exteriorly of the body cyclically, in accordance with the patient's QRS complex, generates a pulsating magnetic field which drives the ferromagnetic plate toward the diamagnetic plate, thereby cyclically compressing the shunt during diastole and giving assistance to the left ventricle of the heart.

Abstract: A pulsatile flow cardiopulmonary bypass pump for use outside of the body during cardiac surgery and/or in the period immediately thereafter is disclosed. A grooved spinner is motor driven through a fluid coupling which enables idling of the spinner during diastole. The shell of the pump has a roof to which the spinner drive motor is attached, and the roof can move axially of the shell body and is biased resiliently in one axial direction. The roof of the shell moves as a function of duration of systole and magnitude of afterload, reducing stroke volume in the presence of high afterload. A groove rider having a friction reducing ball bearing drives a ring follower housing during rotation of the spinner.

Abstract: The pumping element and the electric motor are disposed inside a sealed container formed by a tank covered with a lid. The fixing this lid on the body of the tank ensures automatically the assembling of the motor with the pumping element, as well as the fixing of the supply terminals of the motor and the connection pipes to the suction and delivery orifices of the pumping element, which are placed at the upper part of the tank.

Abstract: A left atrial to descending thoracic aorta shunt is encircled by an artificial muscle sheath consisting of a multiplicity of connected rod-like segments formed of an elastomer. Each segment contains a series of embedded electromagnets and surrounding dispersed fragments of magnetically attractable material. The electromagnets are energized across intact skin of a recipient of the device by state of the art induction means to cause contraction of the individual artificial muscle segments with resulting contraction of the muscle sheath to thereby squeeze cyclically a predetermined volume of blood through the flexible shunt which is equipped at opposite ends of the muscle sheath with check valves.

Abstract: A blood pumping device is described for internal use in humans or animals and which is particularly suitable for use as a left ventricular assist device. The device is comprised of a unitary pancake-shaped deformable sac of flexible resilient, blood compatible material. A pair of oppositely acting plates on each side of the pancake-shaped sac are moved toward and away from each other by the action of driving means to deform the sac and provide the pumping action. Inlets and outlets are arranged in the annular side wall of the sac.

Abstract: An implanted tether-free externally powered motor with suitable reduction gearing drives a spirally grooved shaft having a ring housing for a shaft follower pin. A rectangular cross section chamber receives an ejection plate pivoted near one end to a first leg of the ring housing and having a resilient lost motion connection with a second leg of the ring housing near its other end. A compressible sac or pouch extends through said chamber and is fitted at its opposite ends with porcine valves and has conduit extensions outwardly of said valves for connection with the left atrium and the descending thoracic aorta, respectively. During use, the sac or pouch is cyclically compressed by the ejection plate, initially at the end of the ejection plate having the lost motion yielding connection with the follower ring housing, and subsequently at both ends of the ejection plate so that a predetermined volume of blood is delivered on each stroke of the ejection plate to the thoracic aorta.

Abstract: A peristaltic pump comprises two concentric cylinders at least one of which includes a plurality of piezoelectric elements which are successively electrically energized to produce moving seals in the region between the cylinders.

Abstract: A pumping device whose functioning resembles the action of the natural four chambered heart is constructed as a total cardiac replacement unit. An internal electrical drive motor adapted to be powered by radio frequency induction across intact skin drives an eccentric rotary element which in turn causes oscillation of pivoted vanes whose movements cyclically compress a pair of blood compatible sacs which simulate the left ventricle and right ventricle of the natural heart by pumping blood through the aorta and pulmonary artery, respectively. As in the natural heart, stroke volume of each ventricle is independent of the other and is a function of right atrial and left atrial pressure and volume. Additional embodiments of the invention feature modified driving means for the pumping vanes.

Abstract: A pulsatile flow pumping unit adapted to serve as a total cardiac replacement device, a cardiac assist pump for orthotopic placement, for extracorporeal application in conjunction with a membrane oxygenator for cardiopulmonary support during surgery or critical illnesses, for pulsatile flow coronary artery perfusion, and for filling and emptying of an aortic diastolic augmentation balloon for cardiac assist is provided. The pumping unit features simplicity of construction, comparative economy and reliability by utilizing a minimum number of working parts including a large diameter slitted rotary driver and cam operated follower means which avoids close machining tolerances and attendant high cost of manufacturing. The device automatically adjusts its rate of pumping in accordance with both preload (filling pressure) and afterload (pulmonic and systemic pressure) and in addition modifies its stroke volume in a downward direction when confronted with high afterload.

Abstract: An electrically controlled magnetic fluid actuated device, which can be used in controlling fluid flow and which has particular utility in controlling this flow from a pressurized reservoir implanted in the body such as might be used for an artificial pancreas, sphincter for bladder control or other orthotic devices in the body of a human, has no freely moving parts and consists of a flow passageway having a portion the cross-section of which may be varied to control and to stop the flow of fluid, such as medicine, from a reservoir in the body to the point where this fluid is needed. A magnetic fluid which surrounds or contacts this portion of the passageway can, according to the presence or lack of a magnetic flux in its vicinity, occlude the passageway or allow it to open so as to control the fluid flow in the flow member.

Abstract: This invention provides novel mechanical work generating means. Basically, the novel mechanical work generating means provided by the present invention comprise: first means for mechanically generating a heat component of work; second means, mechanically interconnected to the first means, for mechanically generating a non-heat component of work; and third means, mechanically interconnected to the first and second means, for combining the heat and non-heat components of work into a resultant mechanical work output.

Abstract: A bellows type expansible chamber pump having an exterior spring encircling it for biasing the pump in a suction direction, the pump being completely and quickly disassembled for cleaning purposes. The pump is mounted within an enclosure or box and is driven through an adjustable eccentric by an electric motor. A pump end section sets freely in the bottom of the box and can be manually shifted to prime the pump.

Abstract: A circulatory assist device and system are provided for controlling, wholly or partially, the pumping of blood through a blood vessel or vascular prosthesis. The assist device is comprised of an electrically operated plunger, or equivalent, which momentarily occludes the blood vessel to effect pumping. Preferably, a plurality of the assist devices are mounted adjacent each other and are sequentially actuated to sequentially occlude adjacent segments of the associated blood vessel, thereby creating a pumping action. The assist devices are implantable at various locations in the body and may be provided in appropriate size and number to effectively replace heart action. Valves may be utilized to enhance the efficiency or provide pumping with a single assist device.

Abstract: The pump has a piezoelectric variable volume chamber and a solenoid controlled valve operated in sequence to pump small volumes of liquid. The sequence is produced by developing a phase difference between the control of the piezoelectrical chamber and the solenoid valve.

Abstract: A flexible tube pump comprises motor means having mounting elements on the casing thereof and a rotatable shaft. A rotor is carried by the shaft and impeller elements are distributed circumferentially on the rotor to orbit as the rotor rotates. A substantially U-shaped shield has leg means securable to the motor casing mounting elements and a semicircular bight portion cantilevered from the leg means substantially concentrically of the orbit of the impeller elements. A compressible tube is engagable between the shield and orbiting impeller elements. A housing may enclose the motor, rotor and shield, the motor being fixed to a cover on the housing and end portions of the tube extending out through a wall of the housing.

Abstract: A blood pump system, typically employed in dialysis, includes a blood pump for withdrawing blood via a single hypodermic needle and valve means operated in synchronism therewith for returning treated blood via the same hypodermic needle. The operation of the blood pump is cyclically interrupted and the valve means opened for the alternate withdrawal and return of blood.