Abstract: A control device (100) for controlling the rotational speed (nVAD(t)) of a non-pulsatile ventricular assist device, VAD, (50) uses an event-based within-a-beat control strategy, wherein the control device is configured to alter the rotational speed of the VAD within the cardiac cycle of the assisted heart and to synchronize the alteration of the rotational speed with the heartbeat by at least one sequence of trigger signals (?(t)) that is related to at least one predetermined characteristic event in the cardiac cycle. Further, a VAD (50) for assistance of a heart comprises the control device (100) for controlling the VAD, wherein the VAD is preferably a non-pulsatile rotational, for example catheter-based, blood pump.

Abstract: An intravascular blood pump for percutaneous insertion comprises a catheter (10) and a pumping device (1) attached to the catheter (10). The catheter (10) extends along a longitudinal axis and has a distal end (11) and a proximal end (12) opposite the distal end (11). The catheter (10) comprises an elongate stiffening structure (15) extending continuously longitudinally along the length of the catheter (10) between the proximal end (11) and the distal end (12) of the catheter (10). The stiffening structure (15) may comprise a shape-memory material, such as Nitinol. It may be in the form of a wire that extends loosely through the lumen of the catheter and helps to avoid or significantly reduce kinks in the catheter.

Abstract: A control device for a ventricular assist device (VAD) with settable speed levels. The control device includes an input configured to receive at least one measuring signal related to a physiological condition of the circulatory system of a patient receiving heart assistance by the VAD, where the control device is configured to derive an actual value of at least one characteristic parameter of the heart from one or more of the at least one measuring signal and to provide a refined actual value of the at least one characteristic parameter in which effects of physiologically caused fluctuations are eliminated or reduced. The control device further includes an output configured to output an updated setting value for the speed level, where the control device is configured to produce the updated setting value based on the refined actual value and a predeterminable set-point value.

Abstract: A system and method are disclosed in the field of preparing a catheter for use in a patient, in particular a catheter of an intravascular blood pump, more specifically for properly purging and de-airing the catheter. The catheter comprises an elongate tubular portion and a connected device. The elongate tubular portion is configured to be inserted into a patient's blood vessel and defines a lumen. The connected device is connected to the elongate tubular portion and has a cavity, which may accommodate a drive unit of the blood pump, and which is in fluid communication with the lumen of the elongate tubular portion. In order to securely de-air the system, a sensor, such as an accelerometer, for detecting an orientation of the connected device is provided, and a user may be guided to correct the orientation of the connected device for proper purging.

Abstract: The invention concerns a control device for controlling a blood flow of an intravascular blood pump for percutaneous insertion into a patient's blood vessel, the blood pump comprising a pump unit with a drive unit for driving the pump unit and configured to convey blood from a blood flow inlet towards a blood flow outlet, wherein the control device is configured to operate the blood pump in a selectable zero-flow control mode, wherein a blood flow command signal is selected, and the control device comprises a first controller and a second controller, wherein the first controller is configured to control the blood flow by adjusting a speed command signal for the drive unit, and the second controller is configured to control a drive speed of the drive unit.

Abstract: Blood pump for percutaneous insertion into a heart's ventricle comprising an electrical motor for driving the blood pump, the electrical motor comprising at least tree motor winding units, wherein each motor winding unit is individually connectable to a power supply via two separate phase supply lines connected to the respective motor winding unit terminals. Motor controller for driving and controlling the electrical motor of the blood pump, wherein the motor controller comprises corresponding phase supply line driving units for each motor winding units of the electrical motor of the blood pump which phase supply line driving units are connected via the corresponding two-phase supply lines with the corresponding motor winding unit. Blood pump system comprising the blood pump and the motor controller.

Abstract: A blood pump for supporting a patient's heart includes a flow cannula having a distal portion including a distal end and a proximal portion including a proximal end opposite the distal end, the distal end of the flow cannula configured to be connected to the patient's heart or a blood vessel to establish fluid communication between the blood pump and the patient's heart and blood vessel, respectively. The flow cannula further includes an intermediate portion attached to the distal portion and the proximal portion, wherein the intermediate portion allows twisting thereof with a lower force than the distal portion and the proximal portion. The intermediate portion can be fully occluded by twisting it. At least a portion of the intermediate portion either alone or in combination with the distal portion is adapted to be permanently attached to the patient's heart or a blood vessel.

Abstract: This invention concerns an intravascular blood pump for percutaneous insertion into a patient's blood vessel. The blood pump comprises a pump casing having a blood flow inlet and a blood flow outlet, an impeller arranged in said pump casing so as to be rotatable about an axis of rotation. The impeller has blades sized and shaped for conveying blood from the blood flow inlet to the blood flow outlet. The blood pump comprises a drive unit for rotating the impeller, the drive unit comprising a magnetic core including a plurality of posts arranged about the axis of rotation and a back plate connecting the posts and extending between the posts in an intermediate area. A coil winding is disposed around each of the posts. The coil windings are controllable so as to create a rotating magnetic field, wherein the impeller comprises a magnetic structure arranged to interact with the rotating magnetic field so as to cause rotation of the impeller.

Abstract: This invention concerns an intravascular blood pump for percutaneous insertion into a patient's blood vessel. The blood pump comprises a pump casing having a blood flow inlet and a blood flow outlet, an impeller arranged in said pump casing so as to be rotatable about an axis of rotation. The impeller has blades sized and shaped for conveying blood from the blood flow inlet to the blood flow outlet. The blood pump comprises a drive unit for rotating the impeller, the drive unit comprising a plurality of posts arranged about the axis of rotation and a back plate connecting rear ends of the parts, the posts and the back plate together forming a magnetic core of the drive unit. A coil winding is disposed around each of the posts. The coil windings are controllable so as to create a rotating magnetic field, wherein the impeller comprises a magnetic structure arranged to interact with the rotating magnetic field so as to cause rotation of the impeller.

Abstract: This invention concerns an intravascular blood pump for percutaneous insertion into a patient's blood vessel. The blood pump comprises a pump casing having a blood flow inlet and a blood flow outlet, and an impeller arranged in said pump casing so as to be rotatable about an axis of rotation. The impeller has blades sized and shaped for conveying blood from the blood flow inlet to the blood flow outlet. The blood pump comprises a drive unit for rotating the impeller, the drive unit comprising a plurality of posts arranged about the axis of rotation. Each of the posts has a longitudinal axis and an impeller-side end pointing towards the impeller. A coil winding is disposed around each of the posts and has an impeller-side end pointing towards the impeller. The coil windings are controllable so as to create a rotating magnetic field, wherein the impeller comprises a magnetic structure arranged to interact with the rotating magnetic field so as to cause rotation of the impeller.

Abstract: This invention concerns an intravascular blood pump for percutaneous insertion into a patient's blood vessel. The blood pump comprises a pump casing having a blood flow inlet and a blood flow outlet, and an impeller arranged in said pump casing so as to be rotatable about an axis of rotation. The impeller has blades sized and shaped for conveying blood from the blood flow inlet to the blood flow outlet. The blood pump comprises a drive unit for rotating the impeller, the drive unit comprising a plurality of posts arranged about the axis of rotation and a back plate. A coil winding is disposed around each of the posts and has an impeller-side end pointing towards the impeller. The coil windings are controllable so as to create a rotating magnetic field, wherein the impeller comprises a magnetic structure arranged to interact with the rotating magnetic field so as to cause rotation of the impeller. The rear end surfaces of the posts contact the back plate.

Abstract: A system for providing vascular access in a patient's body may comprise at least one hemostatic valve and at least one clamp to be used with a vascular graft. The vascular graft comprises a tubular body having a proximal end and a distal end, the proximal end being configured to be attached to a vessel in a patient's body. The at least one valve is configured to be attached to the distal end of the graft's tubular body and comprises a housing including a flexible membrane that allows a medical device to be inserted through the membrane into said vascular graft. The valve further comprises an introducer sheath configured to be inserted into the distal end of the graft's tubular body.

Abstract: Electrode assembly patches configured for conductance and admittance measurements, and methods of manufacturing same. The present technology provides designs and manufacturing methods that may enable a conductance or admittance electrode assembly patches to be flexible, low-profile, and easily applied to an intravascular blood pump or other device, such that there may be little or no change to the device's overall diameter, profile, and functionality.

Abstract: A control device for a ventricular assist device (VAD) with settable speed levels. The control device includes an input configured to receive at least one measuring signal related to a physiological condition of the circulatory system of a patient receiving heart assistance by the VAD, where the control device is configured to derive an actual value of at least one characteristic parameter of the heart from one or more of the at least one measuring signal and to provide a refined actual value of the at least one characteristic parameter in which effects of physiologically caused fluctuations are eliminated or reduced. The control device further includes an output configured to output an updated setting value for the speed level, where the control device is configured to produce the updated setting value based on the refined actual value and a predeterminable set-point value.

Abstract: A blood pump comprises a pump casing having a blood flow inlet and a blood flow outlet connected by a passage, and an impeller rotatable about an axis of rotation. A surface of the impeller faces a surface of the pump casing spaced from said surface of the impeller by a clearance, the clearance being in fluid connection with the passage at a clearance transition point. At least one wash out channel extends through the impeller and is in fluid connection with the passage via a first opening and with the clearance via a second opening. The first opening of the wash out channel is arranged in an area of the impeller that is under a higher pressure than the clearance transition point so as to cause a blood flow from the first opening through the wash out channel and the clearance to the clearance transition point.

Abstract: A catheter (20), which can be part of an intravascular blood pump, possesses a kink sensor which extends over the total length of the catheter and comprises an optical fiber (28A). The optical fiber is attached to an evaluation device (100) which evaluates a preset light quantity transmitted through the optical fiber as to whether a part of the light quantity is coupled out of the optical fiber along the length of the optical fiber. This is interpreted as a kink event and displayed. The optical fiber preferably utilized for the kink sensor is the optical fiber of an optical pressure sensor.

Abstract: This invention is directed to a corrosion resistant permanent magnet, to a method for producing a corrosion resistant permanent magnet, and to an intravascular blood pump comprising the magnet. The magnet is corrosion resistant due to a composite coating comprising a metal layer, optionally a metal oxide layer, a layer formed from poly(2-chloro-p-xylylene), and a linker layer between the metal oxide layer and the poly(2-chloro-p-xylylene) layer.

Abstract: A centrifugal blood pump without a mechanical bearing comprises a pump casing (1), an impeller (9) arranged in the pump casing rotatably about the central axis and freely movable axially and radially within a limited clearance. The impeller has per-manent magnets or permanently magnetized magnetic regions (N/S) which cooperate with an electromagnetic drive to set the impeller rotating. A circular wall (12) or circularly arranged wall sections are provided within the pump casing, their inner surfaces defining a radial clearance together with the outer circumference of the impeller to form a hydrodynamic radial bearing for the impeller.

Abstract: A blood pump for supporting a patient's heart includes a flow cannula having a distal portion including a distal end and a proximal portion including a proximal end opposite the distal end, the distal end of the flow cannula configured to be connected to the patient's heart or a blood vessel to establish fluid communication between the blood pump and the patient's heart and blood vessel, respectively. The flow cannula further includes an intermediate portion attached to the distal portion and the proximal portion, wherein the intermediate portion allows twisting thereof with a lower force than the distal portion and the proximal portion. The intermediate portion can be fully occluded by twisting it. At least a portion of the intermediate portion either alone or in combination with the distal portion is adapted to be permanently attached to the patient's heart or a blood vessel.

Abstract: An intravascular blood pump comprises a pump casing having a blood flow inlet and a blood flow outlet, and an impeller arranged in said pump casing so as to be rotatable about an axis of rotation, wherein the impeller has blades sized and shaped for conveying blood from the blood flow inlet to the blood flow outlet. The blood pump further comprises a drive unit for rotating the impeller, the drive unit comprising a plurality of posts arranged about the axis of rotation, wherein each of the posts includes a shaft portion and a head portion. Coil windings around the posts are sequentially controllable so as to create a rotating magnetic field. The drive unit further comprises a back plate which engages ends of the shaft portions of the posts opposite the head portions.