Abstract: A system for treating a patient with a heart condition includes an atrial assist device (AAD) configured to be positioned in the patients heart to pump blood from an atrium of the patients heart into a ventricle associated with the atrium. The system also includes a controller operatively connected to the AAD and being configured to control the AAD to pump blood from the atrium of the patients heart into the ventricle associated with the atrium.

Abstract: A ventricular assist device includes a housing including a pumping chamber. A stator assembly is supported in the housing. The stator assembly includes a core having a length measured along a pump axis. A rotating assembly is rotatable relative to the stator assembly about the pump axis. The rotating assembly includes an impeller positioned in the pumping chamber and a rotor magnet. The rotating assembly is movable axially along the pump axis relative to the pump housing and the stator assembly. The rotating assembly includes a rotor magnet configured and arranged such that the magnetic attraction of the rotor magnet to the core urges the rotating assembly to move axially relative to the stator assembly such that a flow regulating portion of the rotating assembly engages with a corresponding portion of the housing to block flow through the pumping chamber when the pump is at rest.

Abstract: A ventricular assist device includes a housing including a pumping chamber. A stator assembly is supported in the housing. The stator assembly includes a core having a length measured along a pump axis. A rotating assembly is rotatable relative to the stator assembly about the pump axis. The rotating assembly includes an impeller positioned in the pumping chamber and a rotor magnet. The rotating assembly is movable axially along the pump axis relative to the pump housing and the stator assembly. The rotating assembly includes a rotor magnet configured and arranged such that the magnetic attraction of the rotor magnet to the core urges the rotating assembly to move axially relative to the stator assembly such that a flow regulating portion of the rotating assembly engages with a corresponding portion of the housing to block flow through the pumping chamber when the pump is at rest.

Abstract: A system and method of controlling the operation of a pump system includes modulating the speed of the pump and calculating a system condition parameter having a value related to the area of a hysteresis loop generated by a system operating parameter that varies in response to pump speed. The condition of the system is determined in response to the value of the system condition parameter.

Abstract: A system and method of controlling the operation of a pump system includes modulating the speed of the pump and calculating a system condition parameter having a value related to the area of a hysteresis loop generated by a system operating parameter that varies in response to pump speed. The condition of the system is determined in response to the value of the system condition parameter.

Abstract: An apparatus is provided for delivering an implantable medical device to a diseased cardiac valve includes an elongated shank, a brace member, and a locking mechanism. The shank has a first end portion, a second end portion, and a first longitudinal axis extending between the end portions. The first end portion includes a rotatable annular lower support and a fixing member. The lower support includes an annular ring having oppositely disposed upper and lower surfaces and a plane extending radially between the upper and lower surfaces. The brace member includes a barrel portion operably connected to a drive system. The barrel portion includes a first end portion, a second end portion, and a second longitudinal axis extending between the end portions. The drive system includes a housing operably connected to an actuating handle. The locking mechanism is operably connected to the housing and the elongated shank.

Abstract: An apparatus is provided for delivering an implantable medical device to a diseased cardiac valve includes an elongated shank, a brace member, and a locking mechanism. The shank has a first end portion, a second end portion, and a first longitudinal axis extending between the end portions. The first end portion includes a rotatable annular lower support and a fixing member. The lower support includes an annular ring having oppositely disposed upper and lower surfaces and a plane extending radially between the upper and lower surfaces. The brace member includes a barrel portion operably connected to a drive system. The barrel portion includes a first end portion, a second end portion, and a second longitudinal axis extending between the end portions. The drive system includes a housing operably connected to an actuating handle. The locking mechanism is operably connected to the housing and the elongated shank.

Abstract: A hot wire igniter for igniting a gaseous or atomized fuel is disclosed. The coil of the hot wire igniter is formed from a thin high temperature, iron, chromium, aluminum alloy having a center section that is tightly wound. The coil turns initially do not touch one another and each end of the coil is attached to a rod that is received within an insulator member. The rods are connected to a power source. The coil portion of the hot wire igniter is received within a gas collector box which is attached to the burner to be ignited. Application of the power source to the lead-in rods causes the coil of wire to reach a temperature in excess of the ignition temperature of the fuel mixture which surrounds same causing the ignition of the mixture.

Abstract: A bearing for a gear pump including a bearing dam which has a surface, an inlet face relief located on the bearing dam, and a discharge face relief located on the bearing dam. A bearing dam wall is located between the inlet face relief and the discharge face relief and a bleed hole arrangement. The bleed hole arrangement includes a blind passage located on the discharge face relief, and a second passage positioned perpendicular to and connected to the blind passage. The second passage extends to the surface of the bearing dam. In an alternative embodiment, the second passage is of a stepped configuration. The bleed hole arrangement reduces cavitation on the bearing and gear surfaces by pulsing fuel into an inter-tooth volume formed between the gear teeth during gear rotation.

Abstract: A piezoelectric ignition system for a plurality of gas burners includes an elongated adjustably mounted flash tube of high temperature resistant dielectric material mounted adjacent each burner. A pair of electrodes are mounted on each flash tube in spaced-apart relationship to define spark gaps, and are electrically connected in series with one another across opposite sides of a single piezoelectric voltage source. The system is adapted to accommodate heavier and lighter than air combustible gases.