Patents by Inventor Gerd Spanier
Gerd Spanier has filed for patents to protect the following inventions. This listing includes patent applications that are pending as well as patents that have already been granted by the United States Patent and Trademark Office (USPTO).
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Publication number: 20240149050Abstract: The invention relates to a blood pump. The blood pump comprises a flexible drive shaft guided in a catheter, a conveying element connected to the drive shaft in a distal region of the drive shaft, and a motor, wherein the motor has a stator and a rotor mounted such that it can move in the stator. The stator comprises a winding and the rotor comprises a rotor magnet. In addition, the drive shaft is connected to the rotor at a proximal end of the drive shaft. The stator and the rotor are nondetachably connected to one another, and form a gap with a ring-shaped cross-section, which is delimited by the rotor and the stator.Type: ApplicationFiled: October 12, 2023Publication date: May 9, 2024Applicant: ECP ENTWICKLUNGSGESELLSCHAFT MBHInventors: Thorsten Siess, Gerd Spanier, Joerg Schumacher
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Publication number: 20240139496Abstract: A blood pump assembly can include various components such as a housing and a sensor configured to detect one or more characteristics of the blood. In some embodiments, the sensor can be coupled to the housing and can include a sensor membrane configured to deflect in response to a change in a blood parameter (e.g., pressure). The blood pump assembly can include a shield that covers at least a portion of the sensor membrane so as to protect the sensor from damage when the blood pump assembly is inserted through an introducer and navigated through the patient's vasculature and/or when the blood pump assembly is inserted into the heart in a surgical procedure. One or more protective layers can be deposited over the sensor membrane to prevent the sensor membrane from being dissolved through interactions with the patient's blood.Type: ApplicationFiled: October 31, 2023Publication date: May 2, 2024Applicant: ABIOMED, Inc.Inventors: Ralph Louis D'Ambrosio, Bruce Adams, Michael Thomas Finnegan, Gerd Spanier, Thorsten Siess
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Publication number: 20240100319Abstract: An intravascular blood pump comprises a pump casing having a blood flow inlet and a blood flow outlet, and an impeller arranged in said pump casing so as to be rotatable about an axis of rotation, wherein the impeller has blades sized and shaped for conveying blood from the blood flow inlet to the blood flow outlet. The blood pump further comprises a drive unit for rotating the impeller, the drive unit comprising a plurality of posts arranged about the axis of rotation, wherein each of the posts includes a shaft portion and a head portion. Coil windings around the posts are sequentially controllable so as to create a rotating magnetic field. The drive unit further comprises a back plate which engages ends of the shaft portions of the posts opposite the head portions.Type: ApplicationFiled: October 2, 2023Publication date: March 28, 2024Applicant: Abiomed Europe GmbHInventors: Thorsten Siess, Jimpo Wang, Gerd Spanier
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Patent number: 11918726Abstract: A blood pump for supporting a patient's heart includes a flow cannula having a distal portion including a distal end and a proximal portion including a proximal end opposite the distal end, the distal end of the flow cannula configured to be connected to the patient's heart or a blood vessel to establish fluid communication between the blood pump and the patient's heart and blood vessel, respectively. The flow cannula further includes an intermediate portion attached to the distal portion and the proximal portion, wherein the intermediate portion allows twisting thereof with a lower force than the distal portion and the proximal portion. The intermediate portion can be fully occluded by twisting it. At least a portion of the intermediate portion either alone or in combination with the distal portion is adapted to be permanently attached to the patient's heart or a blood vessel.Type: GrantFiled: January 12, 2023Date of Patent: March 5, 2024Assignee: ABIOMED EUROPE GMBHInventors: Thorsten Siess, Gerd Spanier, Walid Aboulhosn
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Publication number: 20240017051Abstract: An intravascular blood pump has an intake filter that reduces risk of heart tissue being sucked into an intake port of the pump. The filter defines a plurality of apertures, through which blood flows through the filter. The apertures are sized to prevent ingestion, by the input port, of the heart tissue. The filter includes a plurality of generally helical first struts wound about a longitudinal axis of the filter, and a plurality of second struts. The first and second struts collectively define the plurality of apertures therebetween. The struts may be woven filaments, or the apertures may be defined in a thin film (foil) tube, where remaining material between the apertures form the struts.Type: ApplicationFiled: June 19, 2023Publication date: January 18, 2024Applicant: ABIOMED, INC.Inventors: Ralph Louis D'Ambrosio, Maxim Daschewski, Valentin Neblik, Joerg Schumacher, Gerd Spanier
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Patent number: 11865238Abstract: A simply lockable quick coupling for releasably connecting a hose to an implantable apparatus, comprises a first attachment piece that can be connected to the hose and a second attachment piece that can be connected to the apparatus, wherein the attachment pieces can be rotated relative to each other in the locked state.Type: GrantFiled: February 3, 2023Date of Patent: January 9, 2024Assignee: ABIOMED EUROPE GMBHInventors: Thorsten Siess, Gerd Spanier
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Publication number: 20230414921Abstract: A blood pump may be provided that may include a pump housing and a catheter operably coupled to the pump housing. The pump may include a flexible outflow cannula having a proximal portion operably coupled to the catheter, blood flow outlets, and a distal portion operably coupled to the pump housing. The proximal portion of the flexible outflow cannula may have a coupled portion coupled to the catheter and an uncoupled portion extending distally from the coupled portion, where at least one slit may be formed through the entire coupled portion. The slit may extend distally from the coupled portion through at least a portion of the uncoupled portion and connect to a proximal end of at least one of the blood flow outlets (“cut outlets”), the cut outlets having a tapered proximal end and extending distally from the uncoupled portion.Type: ApplicationFiled: June 23, 2023Publication date: December 28, 2023Applicant: ABIOMED, Inc.Inventor: Gerd Spanier
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Patent number: 11844940Abstract: A blood pump assembly can include various components such as a housing and a sensor configured to detect one or more characteristics of the blood. In some embodiments, the sensor can be coupled to the housing and can include a sensor membrane configured to deflect in response to a change in a blood parameter (e.g., pressure). The blood pump assembly can include a shield that covers at least a portion of the sensor membrane so as to protect the sensor from damage when the blood pump assembly is inserted through an introducer and navigated through the patient's vasculature and/or when the blood pump assembly is inserted into the heart in a surgical procedure. One or more protective layers can be deposited over the sensor membrane to prevent the sensor membrane from being dissolved through interactions with the patient's blood.Type: GrantFiled: May 5, 2021Date of Patent: December 19, 2023Assignee: ABIOMED, INC.Inventors: Ralph Louis D'Ambrosio, Bruce Adams, Michael Thomas Finnegan, Gerd Spanier, Thorsten Siess
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Publication number: 20230390545Abstract: An intravascular blood pump has an intake filter that reduces risk of heart tissue being sucked into an intake port of the pump. The filter defines a plurality of apertures, through which blood flows through the filter. The apertures are sized to prevent ingestion, by the input port, of the heart tissue. The filter includes a plurality of generally helical first struts wound about a longitudinal axis of the filter, and a plurality of second struts. The first and second struts collectively define the plurality of apertures therebetween. The struts may be woven filaments, or the apertures may be defined in a thin film (foil) tube, where remaining material between the apertures form the struts.Type: ApplicationFiled: August 17, 2023Publication date: December 7, 2023Applicant: ABIOMED, Inc.Inventors: Ralph Louis D'Ambrosio, Maxim Daschewski, Valentin Neblik, Joerg Schumacher, Gerd Spanier
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Patent number: 11826501Abstract: The invention relates to a blood pump. The blood pump comprises a flexible drive shaft guided in a catheter, a conveying element connected to the drive shaft in a distal region of the drive shaft, and a motor, wherein the motor has a stator and a rotor mounted such that it can move in the stator. The stator comprises a winding and the rotor comprises a rotor magnet. In addition, the drive shaft is connected to the rotor at a proximal end of the drive shaft. The stator and the rotor are nondetachably connected to one another, and form a gap with a ring-shaped cross-section, which is delimited by the rotor and the stator.Type: GrantFiled: December 6, 2021Date of Patent: November 28, 2023Assignee: ECP ENTWICKLUNGSGESELLSCHAFT MBHInventors: Thorsten Siess, Gerd Spanier, Joerg Schumacher
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Patent number: 11813444Abstract: An intravascular blood pump comprises a pump casing having a blood flow inlet and a blood flow outlet, and an impeller arranged in said pump casing so as to be rotatable about an axis of rotation, wherein the impeller has blades sized and shaped for conveying blood from the blood flow inlet to the blood flow outlet. The blood pump further comprises a drive unit for rotating the impeller, the drive unit comprising a plurality of posts arranged about the axis of rotation, wherein each of the posts includes a shaft portion and a head portion. Coil windings around the posts are sequentially controllable so as to create a rotating magnetic field. The drive unit further comprises a back plate which engages ends of the shaft portions of the posts opposite the head portions.Type: GrantFiled: July 23, 2021Date of Patent: November 14, 2023Assignee: Abiomed Europe GmbHInventors: Thorsten Siess, Jimpo Wang, Gerd Spanier
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Publication number: 20230321422Abstract: A simply lockable quick coupling for releasably connecting a hose to an implantable apparatus, comprises a first attachment piece that can be connected to the hose and a second attachment piece that can be connected to the apparatus, wherein the attachment pieces can be rotated relative to each other in the locked state.Type: ApplicationFiled: February 3, 2023Publication date: October 12, 2023Applicant: Abiomed Europe GmbHInventors: Thorsten Siess, Gerd Spanier
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Publication number: 20230285740Abstract: Methods and apparatus for determining flow through a circulatory support device are provided. The method comprises receiving a motor current signal from a motor of the circulatory support device, determining within a time window of the motor current signal, a measured current value at which flow through the circulatory support device is maximum, determining an offset value based, at least in part, on the measured current value, determining based, at least in part, on the received motor current signal, whether an abnormal condition has occurred, adjusting the motor current signal based, at least in part, on the offset value and the determination of whether an abnormal condition has occurred to produce an adjusted motor current signal, and determining the flow through the circulatory support device based, at least in part, on the adjusted motor current signal.Type: ApplicationFiled: March 10, 2023Publication date: September 14, 2023Applicant: Abiomed, Inc.Inventors: Mohammed Alwatban, Ahmad El Katerji, Maxim Daschewski, Gerd Spanier, Andre Chuev, Qing Tan, Samuel Brown
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Publication number: 20230277743Abstract: A blood pump for supporting a patient's heart includes a flow cannula having a distal portion including a distal end and a proximal portion including a proximal end opposite the distal end, the distal end of the flow cannula configured to be connected to the patient's heart or a blood vessel to establish fluid communication between the blood pump and the patient's heart and blood vessel, respectively. The flow cannula further includes an intermediate portion attached to the distal portion and the proximal portion, wherein the intermediate portion allows twisting thereof with a lower force than the distal portion and the proximal portion. The intermediate portion can be fully occluded by twisting it. At least a portion of the intermediate portion either alone or in combination with the distal portion is adapted to be permanently attached to the patient's heart or a blood vessel.Type: ApplicationFiled: January 12, 2023Publication date: September 7, 2023Applicant: Abiomed Europe GmbHInventors: Thorsten Siess, Gerd Spanier, Walid Aboulhosn
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Patent number: 11717669Abstract: An intravascular blood pump has an intake filter that reduces risk of heart tissue being sucked into an intake port of the pump. The filter defines a plurality of apertures, through which blood flows through the filter. The apertures are sized to prevent ingestion, by the input port, of the heart tissue. The filter includes a plurality of generally helical first struts wound about a longitudinal axis of the filter, and a plurality of second struts. The first and second struts collectively define the plurality of apertures therebetween. The struts may be woven filaments, or the apertures may be defined in a thin film (foil) tube, where remaining material between the apertures form the struts.Type: GrantFiled: February 3, 2021Date of Patent: August 8, 2023Assignee: ABIOMED, INC.Inventors: Ralph Louis D'Ambrosio, Maxim Daschewski, Valentin Neblik, Jörg Schumacher, Gerd Spanier
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Publication number: 20230233842Abstract: A method of operating a counterpulsation device (CPD) in a human or animal subject is disclosed, the method including: receiving a heart beat signal indicative of the heart beat of the subject; providing counterpulsation therapy by controlling the pressure supplied to a CPD drive line in pneumatic communication with the CPD to cause the CPD to alternately fill with blood and eject blood with a timing that is determined at least in part based on the heart beat signal; while providing counterpulsation therapy, receiving a CPD drive line pressure signal indicative of the pressure in the CPD drive line; and adjusting the pressure supplied to the drive line based at least in part on the drive line pressure signal.Type: ApplicationFiled: January 10, 2023Publication date: July 27, 2023Applicant: ABIOMED, Inc.Inventors: Paul Spence, Rob Dowling, Robert T.V. Kung, Thorsten Siess, Eric Gratz, Gerd Spanier
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Patent number: 11648390Abstract: An intravascular blood pump having a drive section (11), a catheter (14) fastened to the drive section proximally and a pump section (12) fastened to the drive section distally possesses an electric motor (21) whose motor shaft (25) is mounted in the drive section (11) with two radial sliding bearings (27, 31) and an axial sliding bearing (40). During operation, purge fluid is conveyed through the bearing gap of the axial sliding bearing (40) and further through the radial sliding bearing (31) at the distal end of the drive section (11). The purge fluid is highly viscous, for example 20% glucose solution.Type: GrantFiled: February 27, 2020Date of Patent: May 16, 2023Assignee: ABIOMED EUROPE GMBHInventors: Gerd Spanier, Frank Kirchhoff, Thorsten Siess, Dirk Michels
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Patent number: 11602624Abstract: A simply lockable quick coupling for releasably connecting a hose to an implantable apparatus, comprises a first attachment piece that can be connected to the hose and a second attachment piece that can be connected to the apparatus, wherein the attachment pieces can be rotated relative to each other in the locked state.Type: GrantFiled: September 16, 2020Date of Patent: March 14, 2023Assignee: ABIOMED EUROPE GMBHInventors: Thorsten Siess, Gerd Spanier
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Patent number: 11596727Abstract: A blood pump for supporting a patient's heart includes a flow cannula having a distal portion including a distal end and a proximal portion including a proximal end opposite the distal end, the distal end of the flow cannula configured to be connected to the patient's heart or a blood vessel to establish fluid communication between the blood pump and the patient's heart and blood vessel, respectively. The flow cannula further includes an intermediate portion attached to the distal portion and the proximal portion, wherein the intermediate portion allows twisting thereof with a lower force than the distal portion and the proximal portion. The intermediate portion can be fully occluded by twisting it. At least a portion of the intermediate portion either alone or in combination with the distal portion is adapted to be permanently attached to the patient's heart or a blood vessel.Type: GrantFiled: December 20, 2021Date of Patent: March 7, 2023Assignee: ABIOMED EUROPE GMBHInventors: Thorsten Siess, Gerd Spanier, Walid Aboulhosn
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Patent number: 11577068Abstract: A method of operating a counterpulsation device (CPD) in a human or animal subject is disclosed, the method including: receiving a heart beat signal indicative of the heart beat of the subject; providing counterpulsation therapy by controlling the pressure supplied to a CPD drive line in pneumatic communication with the CPD to cause the CPD to alternately fill with blood and eject blood with a timing that is determined at least in part based on the heart beat signal; while providing counterpulsation therapy, receiving a CPD drive line pressure signal indicative of the pressure in the CPD drive line; and adjusting the pressure supplied to the drive line based at least in part on the drive line pressure signal.Type: GrantFiled: February 3, 2020Date of Patent: February 14, 2023Assignee: ABIOMED, INC.Inventors: Paul Spence, Rob Dowling, Robert T. V. Kung, Thorsten Siess, Eric Gratz, Gerd Spanier