Apical connectors and instruments for use in a heart wall
Granted: November 26, 2019
Patent Number:
10485909
The present disclosure provides an apical connector for use in a heart wall. The apical connector may include a port defining an aperture therethrough, an anchoring device extending distally from the port and configured for advancing at least partially through the heart wall, and a cannula configured for advancing through the aperture of the port and at least partially through the heart wall. The cannula may include a locking tab configured to engage the port and lock the cannula with…
Integrated centrifugal blood pump-oxygenator, an extracorporeal life support system and a method of de-bubbling and priming an extracorporeal life support system
Granted: April 16, 2019
Patent Number:
10258729
A method for pumping and oxygenating blood includes receiving a flow of gas including oxygen into a gas inlet manifold via a gas inlet. The flow of gas is passed through the hollow fibers from the gas inlet manifold to a gas outlet manifold. The flow of gas is output from the gas outlet manifold via a gas outlet. An impeller is rotated to generate a flow of blood that flows over the hollow fibers. Oxygen from the flow of gas is transferred to the flow of blood through the hollow fibers.…
Assembly and method for stabilizing a percutaneous cable
Granted: January 23, 2018
Patent Number:
9872976
A percutaneous cable is attached to a mechanical cardiac pump and is passed through the skin. Sutures can be used to stabilize the cable against movement to prevent disturbing tissue surrounding cable and thereby reduce the incidence of infection. A funnel-shaped tubular device can be used where the cable exits the skin to allow the cable to flex below or near the skin surface as may be desired to accommodate physical activity of a patient. An anchor can be attached to the cable and…
Coupling system, applicator tool, attachment ring and method for connecting a conduit to biological tissue
Granted: December 26, 2017
Patent Number:
9848870
A coupling system includes an applicator tool and an attachment ring mounted on the applicator tool. Clips are contained within the applicator tool and are deployed through the attachment ring in order to anchor the attachment ring to biological tissue. When deployed, tips of the clips follow a curved trajectory through an annular cuff of the attachment ring and through the underlying tissue. The tips loop back out of the tissue and to a location where they are later trapped or clamped…
Resonant power transfer systems with protective algorithm
Granted: November 21, 2017
Patent Number:
9825471
Systems for tuning a wireless power transfer system are provided, which may include any number of features. In one embodiment, a TET system includes a receive resonator is adapted to be implanted in a human patient and is configured to receive wireless power from a transmit resonator. The system can include a controller configured to identify if a foreign object is interfering with the transmission of power or generating an induced voltage in the receive resonator. The controller can…
Magnetic power transmission utilizing phased transmitter coil arrays and phased receiver coil arrays
Granted: October 31, 2017
Patent Number:
9805863
An improved wireless transmission system for transferring power over a distance. The system includes a transmitter generating a magnetic field and a receiver for inducing a voltage in response to the magnetic field. In some embodiments, the transmitter can include a plurality of transmitter resonators configured to transmit wireless power to the receiver. The transmitter resonators can be disposed on a flexible substrate adapted to conform to a patient. In one embodiment, the polarities…
Attachment system, device and method
Granted: June 20, 2017
Patent Number:
9682180
A ventricular assist system and a method of implanting the system are disclosed. The system can have a pump, an inflow conduit, an outflow conduit, attachment ring, ring clamp, and a valvular structure. The attachment ring can be attached to the apex of the heart. The valvular structure can have a flexible, one-way valve in a rigid housing. The inflow conduit can be passed through the valvular structure and the attachment ring into a beating heart with minimal loss of blood. Devices such…
Integrated implantable TETS housing including fins and coil loops
Granted: June 13, 2017
Patent Number:
9680310
Systems and methods for wireless energy transfer are described. A transmitter unit has a transmitter resonator with a coil that is coupled to a power supply to wirelessly transmit power to a receiver unit. A receiver unit has a receiver resonator with a coil coupled to a device load. The receiver unit can include a ferrite enclosure to prevent transmission of magnetic flux into electronics of the receiver unit, and can include ferrite fins to increase a coupling between the transmitter…
Tubing assembly, clamp, and tubing connection method
Granted: April 25, 2017
Patent Number:
9631754
A clamp can be used to further secure the connection between a flexible tube and a tubing connector and to eliminate or diminish fluid stasis near the connection interface. The clamp can include a hollow member having a passageway extending through the hollow member, an internal thread in the passageway, and a clamping surface in the passageway. The passageway is configured to receive the flexible tube. The internal thread is configured to engage the flexible tube and has a first…
Thermal management for implantable wireless power transfer systems
Granted: March 14, 2017
Patent Number:
9592397
Thermal management solutions for wireless power transfer systems are provided, which may include any number of features. In one embodiment, an implantable wireless power receiver includes at least one thermal layer disposed on an interior surface of the receiver configured to conduct heat from a central portion of the receiver towards edges of the receiver. The thermal layer can comprise, for example, a copper layer or a ceramic layer embedded in an acrylic polymer matrix. In some…
Multiaxial connector for implantable devices
Granted: February 28, 2017
Patent Number:
9583874
Disclosed are systems for wireless energy transfer including transcutaneous energy transfer. Embodiments are disclosed for electrical connections between an implanted wireless receiver and an implanted medical device powered by the receiver. Methods for manufacturing and using the devices and system are also disclosed.
Sensor mounting in an implantable blood pump
Granted: February 28, 2017
Patent Number:
9579436
Techniques for mounting a sensor are disclosed. In some implementations, a molded interconnect device carries a sensor for transducing a position of a rotor of the implantable blood pump. The molded interconnect device includes one or more integrated electronic circuit traces configured to electrically connect the Hall sensor with a printed circuit board of the implantable blood pump, and the molded interconnect device is configured to be mounted to the printed circuit board.
Needle guard, assembly and method of implanting a heart assist system
Granted: January 31, 2017
Patent Number:
9555177
A needle guard is used when suturing the cuff of an attachment ring to the heart. The needle guard is disposed in the attachment ring to prevent other parts of the attachment ring from being punctured by a suturing needle. The needle guard can include one or more grooves to inhibit relative movement between the needle guard and the attachment ring during suturing. The needle guard is removed upon completion of suturing and to allow insertion into attachment ring of an inflow conduit of a…
Rotary blood pump with opposing spindle magnets, bore and drive windings
Granted: January 17, 2017
Patent Number:
9545467
Various “contactless” bearing mechanisms including hydrodynamic and magnetic bearings are provided for a rotary pump as alternatives to mechanical contact bearings. In one embodiment, a pump apparatus includes a pump housing defining a pumping chamber. The housing has a spindle extending into the pumping chamber. A spindle magnet assembly includes first and second magnets disposed within the spindle. The first and second magnets are arranged proximate each other with their respective…
Methods of operating a rotary blood pump
Granted: January 3, 2017
Patent Number:
9533083
Various “contactless” bearing mechanisms including hydrodynamic, hydrostatic, and magnetic bearings are provided for a rotary pump as alternatives to mechanical contact bearings. These design features may be combined. In one embodiment, the pump apparatus includes a rotor having a bore, a ring-shaped upper rotor bearing magnet, and a ring-shaped lower rotor bearing magnet. The bearing magnets are concentric with the bore. The lack of mechanical contact bearings enables longer life…
Pump and method for mixed flow blood pumping
Granted: January 3, 2017
Patent Number:
9533082
A blood pump includes a hub having an axis of rotation and a generally cylindrical shape. The hub has an upstream end region, a central region, and a downstream end region, and the hub includes a magnetic material. Blades that are disposed on the downstream end region of the hub extend downstream of the hub.
Protective cap for driveline cable connector
Granted: December 27, 2016
Patent Number:
9526818
A protective cap for fluidly sealing a connector of a cable is provided. The protective cap includes a flexible body having an interior cavity with a distal opening through which the connector is inserted. The distal opening is defined by an annular ridge that engages a cable portion proximal the connector to fluidly seal the entire connector within the cavity. The body portion may have an oval-shaped cross-section while the interior cavity is cylindrical so that the portions wider…
Rotary blood pump
Granted: December 6, 2016
Patent Number:
9512852
The present invention provides a rotary blood pump with both an attractive magnetic axial bearing and a hydrodynamic bearing. In one embodiment according to the present invention, a rotary pump includes an impeller assembly supported within a pump housing assembly by a magnetic axial bearing and a hydrodynamic bearing. The magnetic axial bearing includes at least two magnets oriented to attract each other. One magnet is positioned in the spindle of the pump housing while the other is…
Hall sensor mounting in an implantable blood pump
Granted: November 15, 2016
Patent Number:
9492599
A molded interconnect device can carry a Hall sensor for transducing a position of a rotor of the implantable blood pump. The molded interconnect device includes one or more integrated electronic circuit traces configured to electrically connect the hall sensor with a printed circuit board of the implantable blood pump, and the molded interconnect device is configured to be mounted to the printed circuit board.
Modular driveline
Granted: September 27, 2016
Patent Number:
9452249
A modular driveline includes a modular portion including a cable and a connector, the cable having terminations, and a percutaneous portion including a cable and a connector, the cable having terminations. The percutaneous portion connector couples to the modular portion connector, and cable terminations at the connectors are captured in the connectors by potting. The cable can include an inner member, conductors disposed about the inner member, a covering about the conductors, a layer…
