Vacuum actuated tubular blood pumping device with active values and application of the same

DETAILED DESCRIPTION I claim: 1.
A vacuum actuated blood pumping device comprising: a blood chamber comprising a tubular elastic membrane having an initial shape with a constant diameter throughout the length of the membrane, the membrane having a blood input end and a blood output end; an input connection piece disposed at the blood input end; an output connection piece disposed at the blood output end; a flexible input cannula coupled to the input connection piece; a flexible output cannula coupled to the output connection piece; the membrane being axially installed inside a rigid chamber having a central portion, the rigid chamber surrounding the tubular membrane from the blood input end to the blood output end, and having an opening at the central portion to provide a connection with a vacuum source for applying vacuum upon the tubular membrane through the opening; a first active pinch valve disposed on the flexible input cannula adjacent the blood input end; a second active pinch valve disposed on the flexible output cannula adjacent the blood output end; a command console including a vacuum source, the command console connected to and controlling the pinch valves for pumping blood through the membrane, the blood pumping device having two operating conditions, (a) a first condition wherein the tubular membrane expands diametrically when the vacuum source applies vacuum thereupon with the first pinch valve being open and the second pinch valve being closed, thus giving rise to suction of blood inside the tubular membrane; and (b) a second condition wherein the tubular membrane substantially returns to its initial shape when the vacuum source ceases to apply vacuum thereupon with the first pinch valve being closed and the second pinch valve being open, thus giving rise to expulsion of blood outside the tubular membrane.
2.
The blood pumping device of claim 1 wherein the command console further comprises: a vacuum reservoir connected to the vacuum source through a vacuum level control valve; a vacuum electrovalve connected to the vacuum reservoir; an open air electrovalve connected to the vacuum electrovalve, the vacuum electrovalve and open air electrovalve connected to the rigid chamber through the opening; and a microcontroller connected to the vacuum electrovalve, open air electrovalve, and first and second pinch valves