SYSTEM FOR VENTRICULAR CIRCULATORY SUPPORT

Abstract

The invention relates to a system for ventricular circulatory support, comprising a device (2) for applying a magnetic field to a magnetised body fluid (1), particularly blood, in a region of a vessel (3), particularly a blood vessel. The system also comprises a control device designed to actuate said device (2) for applying a magnetic field such that, in the region of the vessel (3), a magnetically-induced force acts on the magnetised body fluid (1) in the longitudinal direction of said vessel (3).

Claims

1. System for ventricular circulatory support, the system comprising: a device (2) for applying a magnetic field to a magnetized body fluid (1), in a region of a vessel (3); and a control device designed to actuate said device (2) for applying a magnetic field such that, in the region of the vessel (3), a magnetically-induced force acts on the magnetized body fluid (1) in the longitudinal direction of said vessel.

2. System according to claim 1, wherein the control device is further designed to temporally vary the strength and/or direction of the magnetic field applied to the magnetized body fluid (1) such that the body fluid (1) moves in a pulse-like manner in the longitudinal direction of the vessel (3).

3. System according to claim 1, which further comprises a magnetizing means for magnetizing the body fluid (1).

4. System according to claim 3, wherein the magnetizing means is designed to inject magnetized or magnetizable particles (1.1) into the body fluid (1).

5. System according to claim 3, wherein the magnetizing means is designed to treat the body fluid (1) in such a way that a dipole moment is formed in the case of constituents (1.1) of the body fluid (1).

6. System according to claim 3, wherein the magnetizing means is designed to extravascularly, intravascularly or intracorporeally magnetize the body fluid (1) by means of oral administration or by means of intravenous injection of magnetized or magnetizable particles (1.1).

7. System according to claim 3, wherein the magnetizing means is designed to extracorporeally magnetize the body fluid (1) by injection or diffusion of magnetized or magnetizable particles (1.1).

8. System according to claim 1, wherein the device (2) for applying a magnetic field has a magnetic coil assembly disposed at least in certain regions in the longitudinal direction of the vessel (3), said magnetic coil assembly being segmented into a plurality of successive regions (2.1, 2.2, 2.3) that can be actuated independently of one another.

9. System according to claim 8, wherein the control device is designed to successively actuate the individual regions (2.1. 2.2, 2.3) of the magnetic coil assembly in the direction of flow of the body fluid (1) such that a magnetic field is applied in each case by a single region (2.1, 2.2, 2.3) alone to the magnetized body fluid (1).

10. System according to claim 9, wherein the individual regions (2.1, 2.2, 2.3) of the magnetic coil assembly are spatially separated from one another; and wherein, as seen in the direction of flow of the body fluid (1), the first region (2.1) of the magnetic coil assembly can be actuated by the control device in order to apply a magnetic torque to magnetized or magnetizable particles (1.1) disposed upstream of the first region, and wherein a further region (2.2, 2.3) of the magnetic coil assembly, which is disposed downstream with regard to the first region (2.1) of the magnetic coil assembly, is actuated by the control device if the magnetized or magnetizable particles (1.1) were moved by means of the magnetic field of the first region (2.1) of the magnetic coil assembly along the vessel (3) in the direction of the first region (2.1) of the magnetic coil arrangement.

11. System according to claim 1, wherein the device (2) for applying a magnetic field has a large number of magnetic coil assemblies in successive vessel sections, and wherein a magnetic field applied by the device (2) is generated along the successive vessel sections in such a way that a magnetic force, which has a component pointing in the longitudinal direction of the vessel (3), is exerted on magnetized or magnetizable particles (1.1) in the body fluid (1).

12. System according to claim 1, wherein at least the device (2) for applying a magnetic field can be implanted into the body of a patient.

13. System according to claim 1, wherein the magnetized body fluid includes blood.

14. System according to claim 13, wherein the vessel includes a blood vessel.

15. System according to claim 1, wherein the control device is further designed to temporally vary the strength and/or direction of the magnetic field applied to the magnetized body fluid (1) such that the body fluid (1) moves continuously in the longitudinal direction of the vessel (3).

Description

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0038] The invention is described below in greater detail with reference to the accompanying drawings using exemplary embodiments of the system according to the invention for ventricular circulatory support.

[0039] In the drawings:

[0040] FIG. 1: shows a schematic sectional view of the system according to the invention for ventricular circulatory support, of a vessel as well of a magnetic or magnetizable particle;

[0041] FIG. 2: shows a schematic sectional view of the system according to the invention for ventricular circulatory support, of a vessel as well as of a magnetic or magnetizable particle with exertion of a magnetic force by means of a second region of a magnetic coil assembly;

[0042] FIG. 3: shows a schematic sectional view of the system according to the invention for ventricular circulatory support, of a vessel as well as of a magnetic or magnetizable particle with exertion of a magnetic force by means of a third region of a magnetic coil assembly; and

[0043] FIG. 4 shows a schematic sectional view of the system according to the invention for ventricular circulatory support, of a vessel as well as of two magnetic or magnetizable particles.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

[0044] FIG. 1 shows a device 2 for applying a magnetic field to a magnetized body fluid 1. The device 2 is designed as a magnetic coil assembly having three exemplary regions 2.1, 2.2, 2.3, which surround a vessel 3.

[0045] Within the vessel 3, there is a constituent 1.1, such as a magnetic or magnetizable particle or a magnetized or magnetizable cell, of a body fluid 1 of a patient. Only one single such constituent is schematically shown in FIG. 1. Many constituents that are magnetized or magnetizable are normally contained within the body fluid 1 of a patient.

[0046] The magnetic coil assembly 2 is schematically composed of three regions 2.1, 2.2, 2.3. It is, of course, conceivable that the magnetic coil assembly 2 has only one region or alternatively more than three regions at its disposal. In FIG. 1, the case is schematically depicted where a constituent 1.1 that is magnetized or magnetizable and is provided in the body fluid 1 of a patient moves in the proximity of the magnetic coil assembly.

[0047] A first region 2.1 of the magnetic coil assembly 2 is actuated by a control device (not depicted) in such a way that the constituent 1.1 radiates a force in the longitudinal direction and in the direction of flow of the vessel 3. As depicted in FIG. 1, a magnetic force from the minus pole of the dipole of the constituent 1.1 onto the plus pole of the first region 2.1 of the magnetic coil assembly 2 and a force from the plus pole of the constituent 1.1 onto the minus pole of the first region 2.1 of the magnetic coil assembly 2 act in this case on the constituent 1.1, which is magnetized or magnetizable.

[0048] In this context, it should be noted that the terms minus pole and plus pole are to be understood as the magnetic north or respectively south pole.

[0049] From the magnetic forces (arrows having solid lines, starting at constituent 1.1 in FIG. 1) acting on the constituent 1.1, a resulting force (arrow having a dashed line, starting at constituent 1.1 in FIG. 1) is exerted on the constituent 1.1, which generates an acceleration of said constituent 1.1 in the direction of flow within the vessel 3.

[0050] The case is shown in FIG. 2, where the constituent 1.1 was accelerated in the direction of flow within the vessel 3 and now the magnetic coil assembly 2 is actuated in such a way that the second region 2.2 of the magnetic coil assembly 2 is actuated so that, as already described in reference to FIG. 1, now a force is exerted on the magnetic or magnetizable constituent 1.1 in the body fluid 1 in the longitudinal direction or respectively in the direction of flow of the vessel 3 correspondingly from the second region 2.2 of the magnetic coil assembly 2.

[0051] FIG. 3 shows the corresponding case in which the magnetic or magnetizable constituent 1.1 was accelerated within the body fluid 1 of the patient further in the direction of flow of the vessel and now the third region 2.3 of the magnetic coil assembly 2 is actuated by the control device, so that said third region 2.3 of the magnetic coil assembly 2 exerts a magnetic force on the magnetic or magnetizable constituent 1.1 in the direction of flow of the vessel 2.

[0052] FIG. 4 shows in turn the case where a further magnetic or magnetizable particle 1.1 or respectively a further magnetic or magnetizable constituent 1.1 of the body fluid 1 of the patient approaches the magnetic coil assembly 2 and a corresponding control device actuates the regions 2.1, 2.2, 2.3 of the magnetic coil assembly 2 so that this constituent 1.1 is also accelerated in the direction of flow of the vessel 3.

[0053] In other words, the magnetic coil assembly 2 is functionally actuated in such a way that the constituents 1.1 of the body fluid 1 of the patient are preferably accelerated linearly in the direction of flow of the vessel 3.

[0054] On the other hand, the regions 2.1, 2.2, 2.3 of the magnetic coil assembly 2 can be actuated in such a way that a pulse-like acceleration of the constituents 1.1 within the body fluid 1 of the patient is generated in the direction of flow of the vessel 3.

[0055] The invention is not limited to the embodiments of the system for ventricular circulatory support depicted in the drawings but ensues from an overview of all the features disclosed herein.

REFERENCE NUMBER LIST

[0056] 1 magnetized body fluid

[0057] 1.1 constituent/particle

[0058] 2 device P/magnetic coil assembly

[0059] 2.1, 2.2, 2.3 regions of the magnetic coil assembly

[0060] 3 vessel