Patents Assigned to TC1 LLC
  • Patent number: 11331467
    Abstract: Disclosed herein is a catheter pump that includes an expandable cannula and an impeller system. The expandable cannula defines a blood flow channel and includes an impeller blade zone, an inlet zone, and an outlet zone. The catheter pump further includes an impeller system including an impeller body, the impeller system movable relative to the expandable cannula along a longitudinal axis of the catheter pump. The catheter pump is selectively transitionable between a separated configuration in which the impeller body is axially spaced from the expandable cannula along the longitudinal axis, and an operational configuration in which the impeller body is positioned within the impeller blade zone of the expandable cannula.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 22, 2019
    Date of Patent: May 17, 2022
    Assignee: TC1 LLC
    Inventors: Alexander King, David Panus, Tracee Eidenschink, John Pocrnich, Kevin Griffin
  • Patent number: 11331466
    Abstract: Disclosed herein is an inflow cannula for an implantable blood pump assembly. The inflow cannula includes a tubular body that extends from a proximal end to a distal end. The tubular body includes a proximal portion adapted for connection to a pump housing, and a distal portion adapted for positioning within an opening formed in a heart. The inflow cannula further includes an expandable sleeve coupled to an exterior surface of the distal portion. The sleeve has a first portion coupled to the distal portion of the tubular body, and a second portion extending from the distal end of the tubular body. The second portion is deployable from a first, stored configuration to a second, deployed configuration in which the second portion expands radially to engage and conform to an endocardial surface of the heart.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 16, 2020
    Date of Patent: May 17, 2022
    Assignee: TC1 LLC
    Inventors: Rachel Keen, Steve Franklin, Tracee Eidenschink, Ted Dale, Gary Erzberger, Kristopher Vietmeier, Julien Duhamel, Francheska Torres
  • Patent number: 11331470
    Abstract: A securing assembly for connecting a drive assembly to a driven assembly of a catheter pump includes a motor housing, a flow diverter housing, and a flow diverter positioned within the flow diverter housing, wherein one of the flow diverter or the flow diverter housing includes a securement device. The securing assembly also includes a cap coupled between the motor housing and the flow diverter housing. The cap includes a central opening and a locking recess extending circumferentially about the central opening. Insertion of the flow diverter into the central opening causes securement device to engage the locking recess.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 31, 2020
    Date of Patent: May 17, 2022
    Assignee: TC1 LLC
    Inventors: Paul F. Muller, Keif M. Fitzgerald, Richard L. Keenan
  • Publication number: 20220143385
    Abstract: Method and systems control a rotational speed of a blood pump during ventricular diastole. A method includes controlling a blood pump in accordance with a first segment operational mode. A controller monitors the blood flow rate through the blood pump. The controller determines, based on the blood flow rate, whether continued controlling of the blood pump per the first segment operational mode would result in the blood flow rate through the blood pump being less than a target minimum blood flow rate. In response to a determination that continued controlling of the blood pump per the first segment operational mode would result in the blood flow rate through the blood pump being less than the target minimum blood flow rate, the controller controls the rotational speed of the blood pump so that the blood flow rate through the blood pump is approximate to the target minimum blood flow rate.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 26, 2022
    Publication date: May 12, 2022
    Applicant: TC1 LLC
    Inventors: Charles Dague, Dan Harjes
  • Patent number: 11317988
    Abstract: A system for locating an implanted device including magnetic coils within a subject is provided. The system includes a magnetic sensor array including a plurality of magnetic sensors, the magnetic sensor array configured to measure a magnetic field generated by the implanted device, and a position detection module communicatively coupled to the magnetic sensor array, the position detection module configured to receive the measured magnetic field from the magnetic sensor array, and calculate a position of the implanted device based on the measured magnetic field.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 21, 2020
    Date of Patent: May 3, 2022
    Assignee: TC1 LLC
    Inventors: John Freddy Hansen, Christopher Eskildsen
  • Patent number: 11311712
    Abstract: An impeller for a pump is disclosed herein. The impeller can include a hub having a fixed end and a free end. The impeller can also have a plurality of blades supported by the hub. Each blade can have a fixed end coupled to the hub and a free end. The impeller can have a stored configuration and a deployed configuration, the blades in the deployed configuration extending away from the hub, and the blades in the stored configuration being compressed against the hub.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 29, 2020
    Date of Patent: April 26, 2022
    Assignee: TC1 LLC
    Inventors: Zijing Zeng, Phyllis Yuen, Michael R. Butler
  • Publication number: 20220111197
    Abstract: Systems and related methods for supplying power to an implantable blood pump are provided. A system includes a base module and a plurality of energy storage devices. A first energy storage device is operatively coupled to the base module. A second energy storage device is operatively coupled to the first modular energy storage device. The energy storage devices are mechanically coupled in series, electrically coupled in parallel, and configured to provide redundant sources of power to drive an implantable blood pump.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 27, 2021
    Publication date: April 14, 2022
    Applicant: TC1 LLC
    Inventors: Kevin Conyers, Jesse Gage, Carine Hoarau, Jaime Arturo Romero, Joseph C. Stark, III
  • Publication number: 20220096817
    Abstract: Methods, systems, and devices for a mechanical circulatory support system are disclosed herein. An implantable power supply can be part of a mechanical circulatory support system. The implantable power supply can include one or several energy storage components, a power source, a voltage converter, and an output bus. Power can be provided to the voltage converter from one or both of the power source and the first energy storage component. The voltage converter can convert the voltage of the power from a first voltage to a second voltage and can power the output bus.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 9, 2021
    Publication date: March 31, 2022
    Applicant: TC1 LLC
    Inventors: Ethan Petersen, Joseph C. Stark
  • Patent number: 11260213
    Abstract: An impeller for a pump is disclosed herein. The impeller can include a hub having a fixed end and a free end. The impeller can also have a plurality of blades supported by the hub. Each blade can have a fixed end coupled to the hub and a free end. The impeller can have a stored configuration and a deployed configuration, the blades in the deployed configuration extending away from the hub, and the blades in the stored configuration being compressed against the hub.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 29, 2020
    Date of Patent: March 1, 2022
    Assignee: TC1 LLC
    Inventors: Zijing Zeng, Phyllis Yuen, Michael R. Butler
  • Patent number: 11245181
    Abstract: Methods and apparatus for wireless power transfer and communications are provided. In one embodiment, a wireless power transfer system comprises an external transmit resonator configured to transmit wireless power, an implantable receive resonator configured to receive the transmitted wireless power from the transmit resonator, and communications antenna in the implantable receive resonator configured to send communication information to the transmit resonator. The communications antenna can include a plurality of gaps positioned between adjacent conductive elements, the gaps being configured to prevent or reduce induction of current in the plurality of conductive elements when the antenna is exposed to a magnetic field.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 13, 2018
    Date of Patent: February 8, 2022
    Assignee: TC1 LLC
    Inventor: Kevin Gerald Heppell
  • Patent number: 11241572
    Abstract: Method and systems control a rotational speed of a blood pump during ventricular diastole. A method includes controlling a blood pump in accordance with a first segment operational mode. A controller monitors the blood flow rate through the blood pump. The controller determines, based on the blood flow rate, whether continued controlling of the blood pump per the first segment operational mode would result in the blood flow rate through the blood pump being less than a target minimum blood flow rate. In response to a determination that continued controlling of the blood pump per the first segment operational mode would result in the blood flow rate through the blood pump being less than the target minimum blood flow rate, the controller controls the rotational speed of the blood pump so that the blood flow rate through the blood pump is approximate to the target minimum blood flow rate.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 27, 2019
    Date of Patent: February 8, 2022
    Assignee: TC1 LLC
    Inventors: Charles Dague, Dan Harjes
  • Patent number: 11241570
    Abstract: A blood circulation assist system includes a ventricular assist device (VAD) and a controller. The VAD is attachable to a heart of a patient to pump blood from a ventricle of the heart into a blood vessel of the patient. The VAD includes an impeller, a motor stator operable to rotate the impeller, and an accelerometer generating an accelerometer output indicative of accelerations of the VAD. The controller controls operation of the motor stator to control rotational speed of the impeller based on the accelerometer output.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 15, 2019
    Date of Patent: February 8, 2022
    Assignee: TC1 LLC
    Inventors: John Freddy Hansen, John Donald Hill, Peter Andriola, Daniel I. Harjes, Eric Lee, Gionata Valchera, Nichole Mercier, Urim Salltakaj
  • Patent number: 11241568
    Abstract: In various embodiments, a catheter pump is disclosed herein. The catheter pump can include an elongated catheter body having a distal portion including an expandable cannula having an inlet and an outlet. The expandable cannula can have a delivery profile and an operational profile larger than the delivery profile. An impeller assembly can include an impeller shaft, and an impeller body can include one or more blades. The impeller blades can draw blood into the cannula when rotated. Further, an expandable support can have a mounting portion disposed on the impeller shaft distal of the impeller body and a cannula contact portion for reducing a change in tip gap due to bending of the cannula. The cannula contact portion can be disposed distal of the mounting portion.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 4, 2018
    Date of Patent: February 8, 2022
    Assignee: TC1 LLC
    Inventors: Richard L. Keenan, Keif M. Fitzgerald
  • Patent number: 11235137
    Abstract: Methods and devices for implanting a ventricular assist device employ a coupler that engages an aperture formed in a heart wall and provides a conduit by which blood is pumped from the ventricle via the ventricular assist device. A method includes penetrating a distal end of a delivery device through a wall of a heart into a ventricle of the heart to form an aperture having a diameter in the wall. A coupler is deployed from the delivery device so that the coupler engages the aperture, expands the diameter of the aperture, and forms a conduit for a flow of blood from the ventricle. The delivery device is removed from the ventricle by retracting the delivery device through the conduit. The ventricular assist device is coupled to the coupler to receive the flow of blood from the ventricle and pump the flow of blood to assist circulation in the patient.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 23, 2018
    Date of Patent: February 1, 2022
    Assignee: TC1 LLC
    Inventor: Scott Salys
  • Patent number: 11239701
    Abstract: The present disclosure provides systems and methods for controlling wireless power transfer systems. A wireless power transfer system includes a transmitter driven by a power source and a transmit controller, wherein the transmitter is configured to control delivery of wireless power, and a receiver inductively coupled to the transmitter, the receiver configured to receive the wireless power from the transmitter and deliver the received wireless power to a load. The receiver includes receiver electronics configured to determine a Thevenin equivalent impedance of the wireless power transfer system, determine a Thevenin equivalent source voltage of the wireless power transfer system, and control, based on the determined Thevenin equivalent impedance and the determined Thevenin equivalent source voltage, an ideal source voltage of the receiver to vary the amount of the wireless power transferred from the transmitter to the receiver.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 17, 2020
    Date of Patent: February 1, 2022
    Assignee: TC1 LLC
    Inventor: Ethan Falk Petersen
  • Patent number: 11229786
    Abstract: An impeller for a pump is disclosed herein. The impeller can include a hub having a fixed end and a free end. The impeller can also have a plurality of blades supported by the hub. Each blade can have a fixed end coupled to the hub and a free end. The impeller can have a stored configuration and a deployed configuration, the blades in the deployed configuration extending away from the hub, and the blades in the stored configuration being compressed against the hub.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 4, 2020
    Date of Patent: January 25, 2022
    Assignee: TC1 LLC
    Inventors: Zijing Zeng, Phyllis Yuen, Michael R. Butler
  • Patent number: 11224736
    Abstract: An implantable blood pump system is disclosed herein. The implantable blood pump system includes an implantable blood pump and a controller coupled to the blood pump. The controller includes a partially sealed housing defining an internal volume. The controller includes an energy storage component contained within the internal volume and a processor. The processor can generate one or several signals affecting operation of the implantable blood pump. The controller includes a connector receptacle including a plurality of contacts selectively coupled via a circuitry to the energy storage component. The circuitry can electrically couple the plurality of contacts to the energy storage component when a connector insert is received within the connector receptacle and deactivate the plurality of contacts from the energy storage component when the connector insert is not within the connector receptacle.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 29, 2019
    Date of Patent: January 18, 2022
    Assignee: TC1 LLC
    Inventors: Dustin Roelle, Joseph C. Stark, III, Ethan Petersen, Jaime Arturo Romero
  • Patent number: 11224737
    Abstract: Methods, systems, and devices for a mechanical circulatory support system are disclosed herein. An implantable power supply can be part of a mechanical circulatory support system. The implantable power supply can include one or several energy storage components, a power source, a voltage converter, and an output bus. Power can be provided to the voltage converter from one or both of the power source and the first energy storage component. The voltage converter can convert the voltage of the power from a first voltage to a second voltage and can power the output bus.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 5, 2020
    Date of Patent: January 18, 2022
    Assignee: TC1 LLC
    Inventors: Ethan Petersen, Joseph C. Stark
  • Patent number: 11219756
    Abstract: A catheter pump is disclosed herein. The catheter pump can include a catheter assembly that comprises a drive shaft and an impeller coupled to a distal end of the drive shaft. A driven assembly can be coupled to a proximal end of the drive shaft within a driven assembly housing. The catheter pump can also include a drive system that comprises a motor and a drive magnet coupled to an output shaft of the motor. The drive system can include a drive assembly housing having at least one magnet therein. Further, a securement device can be configured to prevent disengagement of the driven assembly housing from the drive assembly housing during operation of the pump.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 14, 2020
    Date of Patent: January 11, 2022
    Assignee: TC1 LLC
    Inventors: Adam R. Tanner, Richard L. Keenan, Doug M. Messner, Michael R. Butler
  • Patent number: 11197990
    Abstract: A system for supplying power transcutaneously to an implantable device implanted within a subject is provided. The system includes an external connector including one of a microneedle array and a microwire holder. The system further includes a power cable electrically coupled to the external connector and configured to supply power to the one of the microneedle array and the microwire holder, and an internal connector configured to be implanted within the subject and electrically coupled to the implantable device, the internal connector including the other of the microneedle array and the microwire holder. The microneedle array includes a plurality of electrically conductive microneedles, the microwire holder includes a plurality of electrical contacts, and the microwire holder is configured to engage the microneedle array such that the plurality of electrically conductive microneedles extend through the skin of the subject and electrically couple to the plurality of electrical contacts.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 18, 2018
    Date of Patent: December 14, 2021
    Assignee: TC1 LLC
    Inventors: Rahul Agarwal, Gene Bornzin, Edward Karst