Patents Assigned to Thoratec Corporation
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Patent number: 9068572Abstract: This centrifugal blood pump apparatus includes an impeller provided in a blood chamber, a first permanent magnet provided in one surface of the impeller, and a second permanent magnet provided in an inner wall of the blood chamber, for attracting the first permanent magnet. The attractive force between the first permanent magnet and the second permanent magnet on the opening side of a sidewall of the blood chamber is set to be smaller than the attractive force between the first permanent magnet and the second permanent magnet on the opposite side of the opening. As a result, inclination of the impeller with respect to a dividing wall during pump operation can be prevented.Type: GrantFiled: June 28, 2011Date of Patent: June 30, 2015Assignee: Thoratec CorporationInventors: Takayoshi Ozaki, Hiroyuki Yamada, Kenichi Suzuki, Ken Sugiura
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Patent number: 9067005Abstract: A centrifugal blood pump apparatus includes an impeller provided in a blood chamber, a permanent magnet provided in one surface of the impeller, a permanent magnet provided in an inner wall of the blood chamber, a permanent magnet provided in the other surface of the impeller, and a magnetic material and a coil provided in a motor chamber for driving the impeller to rotate via a diaphragm. Grooves for hydrodynamic bearing are formed in the diaphragm facing the impeller, and in the inner wall of the blood chamber, respectively. As a result, the impeller can be smoothly activated to drive by controlling a coil current.Type: GrantFiled: November 10, 2009Date of Patent: June 30, 2015Assignee: Thoratec CorporationInventors: Takayoshi Ozaki, Hiroyuki Yamada, Kenichi Suzuki, Ken Sugiura
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Patent number: 9067007Abstract: 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: GrantFiled: March 13, 2013Date of Patent: June 30, 2015Assignee: THORATEC CORPORATIONInventors: Adam R. Tanner, Richard L. Keenan, Doug M. Messner, Michael R. Butler
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Patent number: 9056159Abstract: A circulatory assist system has a pump with a motor coupled to rotate the pump at a selectable speed. A controller drives the motor at a target speed and collects blood flow measurements during operation of the pump. An impaired flow condition is identified when a plurality of successive blood flow measurements are between an expected minimum flow and a low flow threshold, such that the low flow would necessitate issuing an alert. During the impaired flow condition, it is detected whether an inflow obstruction exists by determining whether a reduction in speed of the pump is correlated with a predetermined increase in the blood flow measurements. If the inflow obstruction is detected, then the speed of the pump is further reduced to further increase the blood flow measurements.Type: GrantFiled: June 13, 2013Date of Patent: June 16, 2015Assignee: Thoratec CorporationInventors: Alexander Medvedev, Muhammad K. Sami, Masamichi Yanai
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Patent number: 9044236Abstract: A coring knife can be used to make a circular incision. The coring knife includes an abutment that is inserted into an initial slit through the heart wall. The abutment can be inserted into the slit while oriented in a direction that minimizes its insertion profile. After insertion, the abutment is reoriented by turning a key so that its abutment surface faces toward a circular cutting edge of the coring knife on the other side of the heart wall. The circular incision through the heart wall is made by pressing the circular cutting edge of the coring knife against the abutment.Type: GrantFiled: May 17, 2012Date of Patent: June 2, 2015Assignee: Thoratec CorporationInventors: John Duc Nguyen, Donald Curtis, Carine Hoarau
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Patent number: 9039595Abstract: 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 predetermined time period. Optionally, also, the control system can calculate the second derivative of instantaneous speed of the rotary blood pump and use the calculation of the second derivative of instantaneous speed to detect a suction event, and help prevent it.Type: GrantFiled: January 23, 2014Date of Patent: May 26, 2015Assignee: Thoratec CorporationInventors: Peter Joseph Ayre, Lee Thomas Glanzmann, Nicholas Oliver Von Huben
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Patent number: 9011312Abstract: 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 is then decreased from the first speed to a second speed and is operated at the second speed for a second amount of time. The speed of the blood pump is then decreased to a third speed for a third amount of time. If desired, the operating speed pattern can be repeated to continue the pulsatile blood flow pattern.Type: GrantFiled: June 25, 2013Date of Patent: April 21, 2015Assignee: Thoratec CorporationInventor: Kevin Bourque
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Publication number: 20150099922Abstract: 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: ApplicationFiled: May 13, 2013Publication date: April 9, 2015Applicant: THORATEC CORPORATIONInventors: Zijing Zeng, Phyllis Yuen, Michael R. Butler
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Patent number: 8997349Abstract: 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 depressions (craters) in the surface, which can occur due to the irradiation by an electron beam.Type: GrantFiled: March 15, 2013Date of Patent: April 7, 2015Assignee: Thoratec CorporationInventors: Takehisa Mori, Atsushi Okawa, Takeshi Tsubouchi, Kensuke Uemura
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Patent number: 8992163Abstract: 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 upon rotation of the impeller when in the deployed configuration. The outer edge of one or more blades may have a winglet, and the base of the blades may have an associated indentation to facilitate folding of the blades.Type: GrantFiled: January 11, 2013Date of Patent: March 31, 2015Assignees: Thoratec Corporation, The Penn State Research FoundationInventors: Mark W. McBride, Thomas M. Mallison, Gregory P. Dillon, Robert L. Campbell, David A. Boger, Stephen A. Hambric, Robert F. Kunz, James P. Runt, Justin M. Walsh, Boris Leschinsky
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Patent number: 8968174Abstract: 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.Type: GrantFiled: January 16, 2013Date of Patent: March 3, 2015Assignee: Thoratec CorporationInventors: Masamichi Yanai, Tao Zhang
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Patent number: 8961388Abstract: 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 is then decreased from the first speed to a second speed and is operated at the second speed for a second amount of time. The speed of the blood pump is then decreased to a third speed for a third amount of time. If desired, the operating speed pattern can be repeated to continue the pulsatile blood flow pattern.Type: GrantFiled: April 25, 2014Date of Patent: February 24, 2015Assignee: Thoratec CorporationInventor: Kevin Bourque
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Patent number: 8939882Abstract: 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.Type: GrantFiled: July 30, 2012Date of Patent: January 27, 2015Assignee: Thoratec CorporationInventors: Steven H. Reichenbach, Yu Fai Law
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Patent number: 8939883Abstract: 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 compartment and an internal passage that leads to the compartment. The driveline houses a plurality of conductors that extend from the driveline through the internal passage and into the compartment.Type: GrantFiled: February 4, 2014Date of Patent: January 27, 2015Assignee: Thoratec CorporationInventors: Justin Aron Callaway, Matthew Wagers, James H. Baker
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Publication number: 20150017030Abstract: In this centrifugal blood pump apparatus, one permanent magnet is provided in one surface of an impeller, a second permanent magnet is provided in an inner wall of a blood chamber, a third permanent magnet is provided in the other surface of the impeller, and a fourth permanent magnet and a rotor for driving the impeller to rotate are provided, with an diaphragm being interposed. An amount of change in attractive force between the first permanent magnet and the second permanent magnet and an amount of change in attractive force between the third and fourth permanent magnets when the impeller is eccentric are made substantially equal to each other. Therefore, a levitation position of the impeller can always be maintained at a substantially central position in a housing.Type: ApplicationFiled: May 27, 2014Publication date: January 15, 2015Applicant: Thoratec CorporationInventors: Takayoshi Ozaki, Hiroyuki Yamada, Kenichi Suzuki, Ken Sugiura
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Patent number: 8932197Abstract: 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 between the seal member and the wall of the heart.Type: GrantFiled: September 14, 2012Date of Patent: January 13, 2015Assignee: Thoratec CorporationInventors: Igor Gregoric, Branislav Radovancevic, Alex Y. Hsia
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Patent number: 8905910Abstract: 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.Type: GrantFiled: June 22, 2011Date of Patent: December 9, 2014Assignee: Thoratec CorporationInventors: Stephen H. Reichenbach, George Chao-chih Hsu, Yu Fai Law
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Patent number: 8900115Abstract: 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 provided that has a first end sized and configured to be positioned within the same or different blood vessel, whether primary or non-primary, through the vascular graft. The outflow conduit is fluidly coupled to the pump to conduct blood between the pump and the patient. The vascular graft may be connected to the blood vessel subcutaneously to permit application of the extracardiac pumping system in a minimally-invasive procedure.Type: GrantFiled: July 1, 2011Date of Patent: December 2, 2014Assignee: Thoratec CorporationInventors: Steven F. Bolling, Morteza Gharib, Gabriel Aldea, Mary Lynn Gaddis, Anthony J. Viole
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Patent number: 8894561Abstract: 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 mechanically coupled to the at least one coupling feature.Type: GrantFiled: March 5, 2013Date of Patent: November 25, 2014Assignee: Thoratec CorporationInventors: Justin Aron Callaway, Peter Soderholm
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Patent number: 8882744Abstract: 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 position, the claws are prevented from escaping over the lip and a hard interconnect is obtained.Type: GrantFiled: February 27, 2012Date of Patent: November 11, 2014Assignee: Thoratec CorporationInventors: Christopher P. Dormanen, Sunil K. Dasara, Takeshi Tsubouchi