Importance

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Abstract

The present invention describes a new pump which can be used as a mechanical heart, as a body fluid, as a drug infusion pump, and in similar or related applications for the circulation of body fluids including but not limited to blood and oxygenated air. The pump includes a scroll type pump that has been modified for medical applications. The pump includes two scroll involute spiral elements that are maintained at an angular and radial offset so that both spiral elements interfit to make a plurality of line contacts between their spiral curved surfaces to thereby seal off and define at least one pair of fluid pockets. The relative orbital motion of the two spiral elements shifts the line contact along the spiral curved surfaces thus causing the fluid pockets to change in volume. Since the volume of the fluid pockets increases or decreases, depending on the direction of the orbital motion, the scroll type pump is capable of either compressing, expanding or pumping the body fluids.

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First Claim