[54] METHOD OF USING AN IN VIVO MECHANICAL ENERGY SOURCE
[75] Inventors: Roger Hastings; Kenneth Larson, both of Maple Grove; Michael Berman, Golden Valley; Daniel M Lafontaine, Plymouth, all of Minn.
[73] Assignee: Scimed Life Systems, Inc., Maple Grove, Minn.
[21] Appl. No.: 09/258,361 [22] Filed: Feb. 26, 1999
Related U.S. Application Data
[62] Division of application No. 09/028,859, Feb. 24, 1998, abandoned, which is a division of application No. 08/795, 602, Feb. 5,1997, Pat. No. 5,823,199, which is a division of application No. 08/343,045, Nov. 21, 1994, Pat. No. 5,628, 719, which is a continuation-in-part of application No. 07/981,612, Nov. 25, 1992, abandoned.
[51] Int. C I. A61B 17/00
[52] U.S. C I 128/898
[58] Field of Search 606/127, 128,
606/159, 169, 171, 177; 128/898
[56] References Cited
U.S. PATENT DOCUMENTS
An in vivo source of mechanical energy is provided in close proximity to its load. In the disclosed embodiments, the mechanical energy source is a miniaturized motor ("micromotor") and the load is a miniaturized perfusion pump located at the distal end of a transluminal catheter. The motor is powerful enough to provide the electrical energy needed by the perfusion pump to fluid, and yet small enough to fit inside a body vessel. Aposition sensor may be provided for automatically controlling the motor's driving current so that it is corresponds to the applied load. An embodiment of the perfusion pump is also provided in which an external energy source is used. Another embodiment is provided wherein a balloon/pump/miniaturized-motor configuration is provided on a distal end of a catheter.
6 Claims, 17 Drawing Sheets
