Abstract: The present disclosure provides for methods and systems for determining heart rate of a patient. Based on motor current signals of a ventricular assist device (VAD), each of first, second and third events in the measured current signal may be detected, the first event being indicative of a rise or fall in the current signal, the second event being indicative of a rise or fall in the current signal in the opposite direction as the first event, and the third event being indicative of a rise or fall in the current signal in the same direction as the first event. A timer counter may be initiated upon detection of the first event, and an elapsed time may be measured upon detection of the third event. Heart rate may be determined based on the elapsed time of the timer counter.

Abstract: A signal processing circuit for controlling operation of an implanted ventricular assist device comprising an input module for receiving one or more signals of a patient from one or more sensors. A processor for processing the received signals is included, the processor configured to compare a total blood output on a left side of the patient's heart with a total blood output on a right side of the patient's heart; determine at least one from the group consisting of the presence of fluid imbalance between the left and right sides of the patient's heart and the absence of fluid imbalance between the left and right sides of the patient's heart based on the comparison; and when the presence of fluid imbalance is determined, control the implanted ventricular device to restore fluid balance between the left and right sides of the patient's heart.

Abstract: A method of controlling a blood pump including executing a control command to temporarily displace an impeller of the blood pump within a pump housing from a first axial position relative to the pump housing to a second axial position a distance away from the first axial position using a vector control method, and causing the impeller to move from the second axial position to a third axial position, the third axial position including a positive and a negative displacement of the impeller relative to the first axial position.

Abstract: A method of determining a heart rate of a patient having an implanted blood pump including applying a voltage to a plurality of coils of a stator of the blood pump to produce an electromagnetic force to rotate a rotor in communication with the plurality of coils; displaying a waveform associated with a back electromotive force in the plurality of coils of the blood pump, the waveform being proportional to an axial position of the rotor relative to the stator; determining a time interval between a first alteration in the waveform relative to a baseline and a second alteration in the waveform relative to the baseline; and determining the heart rate of the patient based on the time interval.

Abstract: A method of operating an implantable blood pump having a first stator, a second stator, and an impeller movably disposed there between. The method includes applying a first voltage waveform at first phase to the first stator to generate a magnetic field to rotate the impeller. A second voltage waveform is applied at a second phase shifted from the first phase to the second stator to rotate the impeller, the second voltage waveform is asymmetric to the first voltage waveform.

Abstract: A method of controlling a blood pump having a predefined hydraulic performance including at least from the group consisting of estimating and measuring an instantaneous flow rate during operation of the blood pump at a predetermined rotational speed of an impeller of the blood pump, the instantaneous flow rate including a plurality of flow rate data points. The plurality of flow rate data points define a trajectory around at least one from the group consisting of an operational point of a predefined pressure-flow curve associated with the predetermined rotational speed of the impeller of the blood pump and a target operational point of a target pressure-flow curve different than the predefined pressure-flow curve. The predetermined rotational speed of the impeller is adjusted until the plurality of flow rate data points define a predetermined trajectory around at least one of the operational point and the target operational point.

Abstract: A driveline for an implantable blood pump including a percutaneous outer tube configured to connect with the blood pump when the blood pump is implanted within a body of a patient and an external controller outside of the body of the patient and at least one ultra-violet light emitter coupled to the outer tube.

Abstract: A driveline for an implantable blood pump including a percutaneous connector including an outer tube, the outer tube defining an exterior surface and having a proximal portion and a distal portion opposite the proximal portion, the proximal portion being couplable to the implantable blood pump disposed within a body of a patient and the distal portion being couplable to a controller outside of the body of the patient and at least one electronic instrument coupled to the outer tube and fluidically sealed from the exterior surface.

Abstract: A method of operating an implantable blood pump implanted within a heart of a patient comprising measuring at least one from the group consisting of a current drawn by the implantable blood pump and a blood flow from the implantable blood pump during operation; correlating the at least one from the group consisting the current and the blood flow to a systolic arterial pressure and a diastolic arterial pressure; and adjusting a speed of an impeller of the implantable blood pump relative to a predetermined speed to correspond to an increase the at least one from the group consisting the current during a systolic phase of a cardiac cycle and a decrease in the at least one from the group consisting the current and the blood flow during a diastolic phase of the cardiac cycle.

Abstract: An implantable blood pump including a housing having an inlet cannula, a rotor disposed within the housing, the rotor in fluid communication with the inlet cannula, a stator disposed within the housing, the stator configured to rotate the rotor when a current is applied to the stator, and at least one ultraviolet light emitter disposed within the housing.

Abstract: A system for thrombus detection and removal from a blood pump including a housing having an inlet cannula including an inner tube, a rotor disposed within the housing, the rotor being in fluid communication with the inlet cannula, and a stator disposed within the housing. The stator may be configured to rotate the rotor when a current is applied to the stator. A flexible circuit assembly may also be disposed within the housing including at least one of the group consisting of a plurality of light emitters and a plurality of ultrasound emitters.

Abstract: A flow rate of blood through an implantable blood pump is determined based on a parameter related to the flow, such as a parameter related to thrust on the rotor of the pump. An amount of current supplied to the pump is used to determine each of a first flow rate value and second flow rate values. Each of the first and second flow rate values, in combination with the parameter related to thrust on the rotor of the pump, are used to calculate a flow rate of blood through the pump.

Abstract: A blood pump including a housing having an inlet element, the inlet element including a distal portion coupled to the housing and a proximal portion sized to be received within at least a portion of a heart of a patient and a rotor configured to rotate within the housing and impel blood from the heart. At least one pressure sensor is coupled to the proximal portion of the inlet element.

Abstract: An implantable blood pump comprising a housing. At least one stator is disposed within the housing. A rotor is disposed within the housing, the at least one stator being configured to rotate the rotor when current is applied to the stator. At least one at least partially piezoelectric disk is disposed within the housing.

Abstract: A flow rate of blood through an implantable blood pump is determined based on a parameter related to the flow, such as a parameter related to thrust on the rotor of the pump. An amount of current supplied to the pump is used to determine each of a first flow rate value and second flow rate values. Each of the first and second flow rate values, in combination with the parameter related to thrust on the rotor of the pump, are used to calculate a flow rate of blood through the pump.

Abstract: A ventricular assist device includes a pump configured to pump blood of a patient. A motor is configured to operate the pump. First, second, and third conductors are coupled to the motor and are configured to supply electric current from a power supply to the motor in first, second, and third phases, respectively. A controller is configured to operate the motor using a Field Oriented Control (FOC) method, and if one from the group consisting of first, second and third conductors becomes unable to supply electric current to the motor, the controller continues to operate the motor using the FOC method using the phases of the two conductors that are able to supply electric current to the motor.

Abstract: The present invention relates to kits and methods for calibrating a pump through performance of a thermal knockdown process including demagnetization of an impeller of the pump where the impeller is separate from the pump. By heat treating the impeller, a property of magnetic interaction of the pump is reduced in a repeatable manner. A kit includes a pump with impeller, a controller and an oven. The method generally involves an iterative process of testing the pump for a property related to magnetic interaction of the elements of the pump, removing the impeller from the pump, heating the impeller under controlled conditions, then placing the impeller back into the pump to repeat the test performed initially.

Abstract: A blood pump has an inner housing and an actuator at least partially surrounded by the inner housing which is configured to drive a flow of blood within the body. An electronic component associated with a surface of the housing includes one or more thin film active electronic devices which implement one or more transducers configured to generate a signal based on movement associated with operation of the blood pump. An electromagnetic stator at least partially surrounds the inner housing and is configured to be magnetically coupled with the actuator in an energized state of the electromagnetic stator, wherein the electromagnetic stator may overlie at least a portion of the electronic component.

Abstract: A ventricular assist system including an implantable rotary pump, a pump drive circuit for supplying power to the pump, and a signal processing circuit receiving one or more electrophysiological signals and one or more physiological signals of the subject. The signal processing circuit is operable to receive inputs from the one or more electrophysiological sensors and the physiological sensor, and determine the presence or absence of a non-normal sinus cardiac rhythm condition based on the input from the electrophysiological sensors. In the presence of a non-normal sinus rhythm, the circuit operates the pump in a modified mode of operation. In the absence of a non-normal sinus rhythm, the circuit operates the pump in a normal mode of operation. In either case, the circuit controls the power to the pump and/or speed of the pump based on the input from the physiological sensor and the mode of operation.

Abstract: The present disclosure provides for methods and systems for determining heart rate of a patient. Based on motor current signals of a ventricular assist device (VAD), each of first, second and third events in the measured current signal may be detected, the first event being indicative of a rise or fall in the current signal, the second event being indicative of a rise or fall in the current signal in the opposite direction as the first event, and the third event being indicative of a rise or fall in the current signal in the same direction as the first event. A timer counter may be initiated upon detection of the first event, and an elapsed time may be measured upon detection of the third event. Heart rate may be determined based on the elapsed time of the timer counter.