Control systems for rotary blood pumps
Granted: May 26, 2015
Patent Number:
9039595
The present invention generally relates to a control system for a rotary blood pump adapted to move blood in a patient. The control system comprises a means for measuring and varying the speed of the pump and a means for measuring the pulsatility index of a patient, and the control system is adapted to maintain the pulsatility index at or near a predetermined value by varying the speed of the pump. The pulsatility index is derived from the amplitude of the actual pump speed over a…
Generating artificial pulse
Granted: April 21, 2015
Patent Number:
9011312
In order to produce a pulsatile blood flow pattern that includes time periods of relatively high blood flow rates and time periods of relatively low blood flow rates, the operating speed of a blood pump can be selectively controlled to produce an operating speed pattern that includes time periods of relatively high rotation speeds and periods of relatively low rotation speeds. For example, the blood pump is rotated at a first speed for a first period of time. The speed of the blood pump…
Magnetic bearing apparatus
Granted: April 7, 2015
Patent Number:
9000636
A magnetic bearing apparatus is proposed having a stator (2) which includes a winding (22) for the generation of a magnetic control field, having a rotor (3) which can be magnetically journalled with respect to the stator (2) and also having a sensor device (5) configured as an eddy current sensor for the determination of the distance between the stator (2) and the rotor (3), wherein the sensor device (5) includes at least one sensor element (51) configured as an inductor and at least…
Manufacturing method for medical equipment for reducing platelet adhesion on a surface in contact with blood
Granted: April 7, 2015
Patent Number:
8997349
A manufacturing method for medical equipment involves electron beam irradiating a titanium or titanium alloy substrate surface that has at least been machined, whereby platelet adhesion of the surface to be contacted by blood is reduced. The manufacturing method for medical equipment can also use a specific pre-processing method and an electron beam irradiation method to reduce the platelet adhesion of the surface which is to be contacted with blood, to suppress the formation of minute…
Expandable impeller pump
Granted: March 31, 2015
Patent Number:
8992163
An impeller includes a hub, and a plurality of blades supported by the hub, the blades being arranged in at least two blade rows. The impeller has a deployed configuration in which the blades extend away from the hub, and a stored configuration in which at least one of the blades is radially compressed, for example by folding the blade towards the hub. The impeller may also have an operational configuration in which at least some of the blades are deformed from the deployed configuration…
Motor fault monitor for implantable blood pump
Granted: March 3, 2015
Patent Number:
8968174
A implantable pump system comprises an implantable pump motor and an external unit. An inverter comprises respective phases couple to the motor via a cable with redundant conductors for each phase. A controller receives power measurements for all the redundant conductors, which are combined and compared in order to detect failures in the non-redundant components within the motor and windings.
Generating artificial pulse
Granted: February 24, 2015
Patent Number:
8961388
In order to produce a pulsatile blood flow pattern that includes time periods of relatively high blood flow rates and time periods of relatively low blood flow rates, the operating speed of a blood pump can be selectively controlled to produce an operating speed pattern that includes time periods of relatively high rotation speeds and periods of relatively low rotation speeds. For example, the blood pump is rotated at a first speed for a first period of time. The speed of the blood pump…
Driveline cable assembly
Granted: January 27, 2015
Patent Number:
8939883
A blood pump assembly includes a blood pump configured for implantation and a cable assembly for providing power and control signals to the blood pump. The cable assembly includes a strain relief assembly and a driveline. The strain relief assembly secures the cable assembly to the blood pump and has an outer surface that is curved along a longitudinal extent of the strain relief assembly at least along an outer peripheral side of the outer surface. The strain relief assembly defines a…
Multi-lumen cannula
Granted: January 27, 2015
Patent Number:
8939882
This document relates to methods and materials for providing blood flow for a blood pump recipient. For example, cannulae that can be connected to the circulatory system of a mammal and can be used in conjunction with a blood pump (e.g., an assist device) are provided.
Ventricular pump coupling
Granted: January 13, 2015
Patent Number:
8932197
A device and method for creating a connection with the left ventricle of a heart are provided. A seal member capable of moving between a folded position and an open position is attached to the end of a conduit. An introducer capable of moving between a first and second position allows for the expansion of the seal member into an open position. A clamp component is positioned outside of the heart to provide an axial clamping force with the wall of the heart so that a seal is created…
Fluid delivery system and method for monitoring fluid delivery system
Granted: December 9, 2014
Patent Number:
8905910
A fluid delivery system includes an electric motor, a pump driven by the electric motor, and a control system. The control system is programmed to supply a variable voltage to the electric motor, to sense a response of a current of the electric motor to the variable voltage, and to obtain frequency domain information about the response of the current of the electric motor.
Implantable heart assist system and method of applying same
Granted: December 2, 2014
Patent Number:
8900115
An extracardiac pumping for supplementing the circulation of blood, including the cardiac output, in a patient without any component thereof being connected to the patient's heart, and methods of using same. One embodiment provides a vascular graft that has a first end that is sized and configured to couple to a non-primary blood vessel and a second end that is fluidly coupled to a pump to conduct blood between the pump and the non-primary blood vessel. An outflow conduit is also…
Modular implantable medical pump
Granted: November 25, 2014
Patent Number:
8894561
An implantable medical pump system can include a blood pump comprising a pump housing defining a passage therethrough and a rotor within the passage. The blood pump further includes one or more elements at least partially contained within the housing adapted to actuate the rotor to drive fluid though the passage. The pump housing includes at least one coupling feature. The system further includes an inflow cannula defining a lumen therethrough. The inflow cannula is adapted to be…
Quick-connect outflow tube for ventricular assist device
Granted: November 11, 2014
Patent Number:
8882744
An outflow conduit for a cardiac assist pump has a connector at one end comprised of a main sleeve configured to mate with a pump outlet port. A plurality of prongs extend from the sleeve. Each prong has a distal end with a claw and is bendable so that its respective claw expands over a lip and enters the groove of the outlet port. A lock nut is movable between a retracted position and a locking position. In the retracted position, a soft interconnect is obtained. In the locking…
Blood pump with an ultrasound transducer
Granted: November 4, 2014
Patent Number:
8876685
A blood pump including an ultrasonic sensor mounted in or on a blood contacting surface of the blood pump. The ultrasonic sensor measures blood velocity and reports information to a blood pump controller. The ultrasonic sensor is directed to measure blood velocity in an inflow cannula connected to the blood pump.
Rotary blood pump and control system therefor
Granted: October 28, 2014
Patent Number:
8870552
A pump assembly and estimation and control system therefor, the pump adapted for continuous flow pumping of blood. In a particular form, the pump is a centrifugal pump wherein the impeller is entirely sealed within the pump housing and is exclusively hydrodynamically suspended therein against movement in three translational and two rotational degrees of freedom as the impeller rotates within the fluid urged by electromagnetic means external to the pump cavity. Hydrodynamic suspension is…
Pump and method for mixed flow blood pumping
Granted: October 21, 2014
Patent Number:
8864643
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.
Implantable medical devices
Granted: October 14, 2014
Patent Number:
8858416
An active implantable medical device comprising a therapeutic device, a controller and at least one rechargeable battery, wherein a single hermetically sealed housing encapsulates a therapeutic device, controller and rechargeable battery. A hermetically sealed housing additionally encapsulates a wireless interface and a commutator.
Apical ring for ventricular assist device
Granted: September 23, 2014
Patent Number:
8840538
An apical ring for coupling a conduit of a ventricular assist device to a heart has an annular disk with a central aperture for receiving the conduit. A collar is axially aligned with the central aperture and has a cylindrical shape interrupted by a gap between first and second ends of the collar. The collar has a fixed section joined to the annular disk and has a cantilever section extending from the fixed section to the first end of the collar. A tightener selectively drives the first…
Rotary blood pump
Granted: September 16, 2014
Patent Number:
8834342
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…
