Abstract: A selector valve for a medical fluid delivery device is disclosed. The valve includes a valve bore in fluid communication with an outlet channel, first and second outlet ports, and a selector valve body which includes a valve stem located within the valve bore and having a flow passage. The selector valve body is adapted to place the flow passage in fluid communication with one of the first outlet port, the second outlet port, and a shut-off position.

Abstract: A selector valve for a medical fluid delivery device is disclosed. The valve includes a valve bore in fluid communication with an outlet channel, first and second outlet ports, and a selector valve body which includes a valve stem located within the valve bore and having a flow passage. The selector valve body is adapted to place the flow passage in fluid communication with one of the first outlet port, the second outlet port, and a shut-off position. Further, the selector valve body includes a sealing arrangement having an elastomeric core disposed within a thin-walled valve stem which comprises a thin cylindrical sidewall in direct contact with the valve bore. When the elastomeric core and the valve stem are subjected to internal fluid pressure, the thin cylindrical sidewall of the valve stem expands outward to increase a sealing force between an outer diameter of the valve stem and the valve bore.

Abstract: A syringe is provided including an orientation independent indicia that can be used to validate and determine information about the syringe, injection parameters, and/or fluid contained therein. The syringe includes a syringe barrel and an indicia located on a portion of the syringe containing or associated with identifying information about the syringe, one or more injection parameters of a fluid injector, or a fluid filled in the syringe barrel. The indicia is readable by a reader independent of an orientation of the syringe relative to the reader. A fluid injection system for providing fluid into a patient is also provided. The injection system includes the syringe having an orientation-independent indicia, an injector having at least one syringe receiving port for receiving the syringe, and a controller. The controller can be configured to obtain information from the indicia and provide instructions for performing injections to the injector, based on the information.

Abstract: A fluid pump device is operable by a drive and actuating system. The fluid pump device includes a pump manifold, a plurality of pump cylinders, a plunger reciprocally operable in each of the pump cylinders, and at least one inlet selector valve. The pump cylinders may extend proximally from the pump manifold and are in selective fluid communication with the pump manifold via, for example, respective inlet and outlet check valves. The plungers are reciprocally operable within the pump cylinders and are independently and reciprocally operable by respective piston linear actuators provided in the drive and actuating system. The inlet selector valve is used to establish selective fluid communication between one or more fluid source containers and the pump manifold to control fluid flow into the pump manifold. The inlet selector valve may be located laterally outboard of the pump cylinders and extend generally parallel to the pump cylinders.

Abstract: A fluid pump device is operable by a drive and actuating system. The fluid pump device includes a pump manifold, a plurality of pump cylinders, a plunger reciprocally operable in each of the pump cylinders, and at least one inlet selector valve. The pump cylinders may extend proximally from the pump manifold and are in selective fluid communication with the pump manifold via, for example, respective inlet and outlet check valves. The plungers are reciprocally operable within the pump cylinders and are independently and reciprocally operable by respective piston linear actuators provided in the drive and actuating system. The inlet selector valve is used to establish selective fluid communication between one or more fluid source containers and the pump manifold to control fluid flow into the pump manifold. The inlet selector valve may be located laterally outboard of the pump cylinders and extend generally parallel to the pump cylinders.

Abstract: A pump includes a flexible conduit, at least one valve attached to the flexible conduit about the perimeter of the valve; and a drive mechanism to move the valve to pump blood within the conduit. The drive mechanism can, for example, be adapted to complete a single stroke during each heart ventricle contraction and/or to complete multiple strokes (that is, oscillate) during a single contraction. The moveable valve includes a plurality of openings. Each of the plurality of openings has a closure mechanism in operative connection therewith which is operable to at least partially close the opening to which it is operatively connected when the moveable valve is moved forward and to open the opening to which it is operatively connected when the valve is moved rearward. In one embodiment, each closure mechanism includes a flap of resilient material.

Abstract: A blood pump having rotor and/or stator touch down zones to prevent pump failure or hernolysis which can occur if the rotor comes into contact with the stator due to power failure or mechanical shock. The touch down zones can include forming, or coating, portions of adjacent surfaces of the stator and rotor which can come into contact if a rotor touch down occurs. The materials used to form or coat the touch down zones can have properties which ensure that no consequential damage to the contacting surfaces occurs.

Abstract: A blood pump having rotor and/or stator touch down zones to prevent pump failure or hemolysis which can occur if the rotor comes into contact with the stator due to power failure or mechanical shock. The touch down zones can include forming, or coating, portions of adjacent surfaces of the stator and rotor which can come into contact if a rotor touch down occurs. The materials used to form or coat the touch down zones can have properties which ensure that no consequential damage to the contacting surfaces occurs.

Abstract: A method and apparatus as described herein for substantially, but not entirely, blocking back-flow through a blood pump when the blood pump is not pumping blood wherein the method and apparatus can operate passively or actively if the blood pump stops pumping in order to provide a limited back-flow through the blood pump to prevent clot formation.

Abstract: A back flow limiting valve member which substantially, but not entirely, blocks reverse blood flow through a blood pump, such as when the blood pump is not pumping blood or pumping below a predetermined rate. The valve member can operate passively or actively in order to provide a limited back-flow through the blood pump to prevent clot formation. The back flow check valve may also be employed to restrict reverse blood flow through a blood flow conduit or blood vessel rather than in a blood pump.

Abstract: A blood pump having rotor and/or stator touch down zones to prevent pump failure or hemolysis which can occur if the rotor comes into contact with the stator due to power failure or mechanical shock. The touch down zones can include forming, or coating, portions of adjacent surfaces of the stator and rotor which can come into contact if a rotor touch down occurs. The materials used to form or coat the touch down zones can have properties which ensure that no consequential damage to the contacting surfaces occurs.

Abstract: A flow rate control method and apparatus for a blood pump is provided wherein multiple sensors are utilized to measure physical dimensions of a ventricle to calculate either a cross sectional area or a volume of the ventricle during distention and contraction. The multiple sensors are positioned at spaced locations around the ventricle, and may be attached to or imbedded in the ventricle. The sensors may be in the same plane for determining a cross sectional area or in different planes for determining a volume. The area or volume is generally proportional to a corresponding area or volume of the ventricle such that the calculated area or volume is indicative of distention and contraction of the volume. The area or volume is utilized to control the blood pump flow rate to avoid overly distending or contracting the ventricle and for operating the flow rate in a pulsatile manner to closely approximate the natural pumping action of the heart.

Abstract: A blood pump for assisting a heart is provided having a stator and a rotor. The rotor is magnetically radially supported creating a suspension gap between the stator and the rotor. The rotor can be supported axially by a Lorentz force bearing and can be magnetically rotated. The stator can have a single or double volute pump chamber and the rotor can have an impeller portion for pumping blood. The rotor can have a center bore as a primary blood flowpath. The suspension gap can be a secondary blood flowpath. The blood pump can also have an axial position controller and a flow rate controller. The axial position controller can cause the axial bearing to adjust the position of the rotor. The flow rate controller can have a member for measuring a dimension of a heart ventricle to control the flow rate to avoid overly distending or contracting the ventricle. A method of operating the flow rate controller to create a pulsatile flow rate is also provided.

Abstract: A blood pump for assisting a heart is provided having a stator and a rotor. The rotor is magnetically radially supported creating a suspension gap between the stator and the rotor. The rotor can be supported axially by a Lorentz force bearing and can be magnetically rotated. The stator can have a single or double volute pump chamber and the rotor can have an impeller portion for pumping blood. The rotor can have a center bore as a primary blood flowpath. The suspension gap can be a secondary blood flowpath. The blood pump can also have an axial position controller and a flow rate controller. The axial position controller can cause the axial bearing to adjust the position of the rotor. The flow rate controller can have a member for measuring a dimension of a heart ventricle to control the flow rate to avoid overly distending or contracting the ventricle. A method of operating the flow rate controller to create a pulsatile flow rate is also provided.

Abstract: A blood pump for assisting a heart is provided by a stator and a rotor. The rotor is magnetically supported creating a suspension gap between the stator and the rotor. The rotor can be supported axially by a Lorentz force bearing and can be magnetically rotated. The stator can have a volute pump chamber and the rotor can have an impeller portion for pumping blood. The rotor can have a center bore as a primary blood flowpath. The suspension gap can be a first retrograde blood flowpath. An axial gap between the impeller and the volute housing can be a second retrograde blood flowpath. The blood pump can also have an axial position controller. The axial position controller can cause the axial bearing to adjust the position of the rotor. The axial position of the rotor. The axial position of the magnetic suspension components can be adjusted to compensate for changes in the magnetic fields of the magnetic suspension components. The blood pump can also have a flow rate controller.

Abstract: A blood pump for assisting a heart is provided having a stator and a rotor. The rotor is magnetically radially supported creating a suspension gap between the stator and the rotor. The rotor can be supported axially by a Lorentz force bearing and can be magnetically rotated. The stator can have a single or double volute pump chamber and the rotor can have an impeller portion for pumping blood. The rotor can have a center bore as a primary blood flowpath. The suspension gap can be a secondary blood flowpath. The blood pump can also have an axial position controller and a flow rate controller. The axial position controller can cause the axial bearing to adjust the position of the rotor. The flow rate controller can have a member for measuring a dimension of a heart ventricle to control the flow rate to avoid overly distending or contracting the ventricle. A method of operating the flow rate controller to create a pulsatile flow rate is also provided.

Abstract: A blood pump for assisting a heart is provided having a stator and a rotor. The rotor is magnetically radially supported creating a suspension gap between the stator and the rotor. The rotor can be supported axially by a Lorentz force bearing and can be magnetically rotated. The stator can have a single or double volute pump chamber and the rotor can have an impeller portion for pumping blood. The rotor can have a center bore as a primary blood flowpath. The suspension gap can be a secondary blood flowpath. The blood pump can also have an axial position controller and a flow rate controller. The axial position controller can cause the axial bearing to adjust the position of the rotor. The flow rate controller can have a member for measuring a dimension of a heart ventricle to control the flow rate to avoid overly distending or contracting the ventricle. A method of operating the flow rate controller to create a pulsatile flow rate is also provided.

Abstract: An apparatus for transcutaneously transmitting power and communication signals to an implantable device. The apparatus can include generators for power and information signals; receivers; and a coupler for independently coupling the power signal and a first information signal. An internal unit can have receivers for power and information signals; a second signal generator; and an independent coupler. The first and second information signal can be transmitted at a frequency greater than the power frequency. The external unit can also include a signal conditioner for symmetrically transceiving the first and second information signals; and an external data controller for symmetrically controlling the information signals. The internal unit can also include a voltage regulator converter; an internal signal conditioner for symmetrically transceiving the information signals; and a data controller. Symmetrically controlling can include ASK modulation of a data signal upon an RF carrier signal.

Abstract: A ventricular assist device for a heart includes a compression band-stay-pad assembly for encircling substantially the heart perimeter and comprising an elongated band member or chain disposed in a sealed protective structure filled with a lubricating medium. The band member may be fixed at one end and wound upon, or unwound from, a rotatable spool by a drive motor through a speed reducer. Force-transmitting support or stay assemblies are disposed in the protective structure between the band member and a resilient pad assembly for encircling the heart and promoting heart tissue ingrowth therein. The force-transmitting stay assemblies are biased circumferentially, and thus radially outward, by compression return springs disposed therebetween.

Abstract: A ventricular assist device for a heart includes a compression band-stay-pad assembly for encircling substantially the entire heart perimeter and comprising an elongated band member or chain disposed in a sealed protective structure filled with a lubricating medium. The band member may be fixed at one end and wound upon, or unwound from, a rotatable spool by a drive motor through a speed reducer. Force-transmitting support or stay assemblies are disposed in the protective structure between the band member and a resilient pad assembly for encircling the heart and promoting heart tissue ingrowth therein. The force-transmitting stay assemblies are biased circumferentially, and thus radially outward, by compression return springs disposed therebetween.