Importance

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Abstract

A power assisted mechanism is applied to prosthetic valves as a way of initiating closure of the valve at the appropriate moment in the pump cycle to minimize regurgitation, to create an electromagnetic force to decelerate completion of valve closure to minimize traumatic hemolysis of red blood cells, and to provide a negative charge to the valve as a way of repelling red blood cells and platelets to reduce thrombogenic phenomena and to provide a cushioning force field effect to reduce red blood cell hemolysis associated with turbulent flow across the valve. In one embodiment, a known tilting disc valve comprising an annular frame or cage and a disc pivotably mounted thereon has a fixed electromagnet attached to the annular frame and a permanent magnet attached to the tilting disc. When energized, the resultant magnetic field will repel the permanent magnet located on the free floating disc thereby closing the valve. An important feature of the present invention involves determining the appropriate moment in the cardiac cycle to initiate active closure of the valve. In a preferred method of triggering or initiating closure of the valve, the electrical activity of the heart is monitored and at the appropriate time in the cardiac cycle, as determined by the electrical wave form, active closure of the device may be initiated. This can be accomplished by using a monitoring and control circuit which is similar to known monitoring and control circuits associated with pacemaker and implantable cardioverter/defibrillator devices.

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First Claim