Abstract: An intravascular blood pump having a rotatable shaft carrying an impeller and a housing with an opening through which the shaft extends with the impeller positioned outside the housing. The shaft and the housing have surfaces forming a circumferential gap which has a gap width of no more than 2 ?m over at least part of the length of the gap and at least one of the surfaces forming the gap is made of a material having a thermal conductivity of at least 100 W/mK, in particular a ceramic material such as silicon carbide.

Abstract: An intravascular blood pump having a rotatable shaft carrying an impeller and a housing with an opening through which the shaft extends with the impeller positioned outside the housing. The shaft and the housing have surfaces forming a circumferential gap which converges towards the impeller-side end of the gap and which has a minimum gap width of preferably no more than 5 ?m, more preferably no more than 2 ?m.

Abstract: An intravascular blood pump having a pumping device including an impeller and an electric motor for driving the impeller. A rotor of the electric motor is disposed inside a cavity in the pumping device and rotatable about an axis of rotation and coupled to the impeller so as to be able to cause rotation of the impeller. The cavity is formed by an inner sleeve made of a ceramic material. At least a portion of the stator of the electric motor, in particular a coil winding, may be arranged on the ceramic inner sleeve.

Abstract: An intravascular blood pump comprises a pumping device including an impeller and an electric motor for driving the impeller. A rotor of the electric motor is rotatable about an axis of rotation and coupled to the impeller so as to be able to cause rotation of the impeller. An outer sleeve forms a casing of the pumping device, wherein stator components are fixed inside the outer sleeve by means of a casting compound. In a method of manufacturing the blood pump the stator components are placed on a molding base, including the outer sleeve to thereby form an interspace between the molding base and the outer sleeve in which the stator components are disposed. The casting compound is then injected into the interspace via the molding base to fix the stator components inside the outer sleeve. The outer sleeve preferably comprises a magnetically conductive material to form a yoke of the electric motor.

Abstract: A blood pump comprises a pump casing having a blood flow inlet and a blood flow outlet, and an impeller arranged in said pump casing and rotatably supported in the pump casing by a bearing so as to be rotatable about an axis of rotation. The impeller has blades for conveying blood from the blood flow inlet to the blood flow outlet. The bearing comprises at least one stationary bearing portion coupled to the pump casing and having a stationary bearing surface that faces radially outwards. The bearing further comprises a rotating bearing surface interacting with the stationary bearing surface to form the bearing, wherein the rotating bearing surface faces radially inwards and is formed on an exposed radially inner edge of the blades. The blades are designed to draw blood deposit on the stationary bearing surface in a radially outward direction.

Abstract: An intravascular blood pump (1) comprises a pump casing (2) having a blood flow inlet (21) and a blood flow outlet (22), and an impeller (3) arranged in said pump casing (2) so as to be rotatable about an axis of rotation, wherein the impeller (3) has blades (31) sized and shaped for conveying blood from the blood flow inlet (21) to the blood flow outlet (22). The blood pump (1) further comprises a drive unit (104) for rotating the impeller (3), the drive unit (104) comprising a plurality of posts (140) arranged about the axis of rotation (10). Coil windings (47) around the posts are sequentially controllable so as to create a rotating magnetic field. The shaft portion (141) of each of the posts (140) comprises a soft magnetic material which is discontinuous in cross-section transverse to the longitudinal axis of the respective post (140).

Abstract: A blood pump comprises a pump casing having a blood flow inlet and a blood flow outlet, and an impeller arranged in said pump casing and rotatably supported in the pump casing by a bearing so as to be rotatable about an axis of rotation. The impeller has blades for conveying blood from the blood flow inlet to the blood flow outlet. The bearing comprises at least one stationary bearing portion coupled to the pump casing and having a stationary bearing surface that faces radially outwards. The bearing further comprises a rotating bearing surface interacting with the stationary bearing surface to form the bearing, wherein the rotating bearing surface faces radially inwards and is formed on an exposed radially inner edge of the blades. The blades are designed to draw blood deposit on the stationary bearing surface in a radially outward direction.

Abstract: An implantable blood pump includes an impeller rotatable about a rotational axis, having a body with a bottom surface at a downstream end and a central opening centered about the axis extending at least partially through the body from the bottom surface. A projecting element, e.g., a shaft, extends from below the bottom surface into or through the opening to support the impeller. The body can be configured to drive a primary downstream blood flow along an exterior of the body to beyond a peripheral edge of the bottom surface, and to provide a secondary downstream blood flow through the opening and along the bottom surface to beyond the peripheral edge, the secondary flow improving washing of a bearing surface.

Abstract: Devices, systems and methods for establishing a blood flow conduit between a chamber in a heart of a patient and a remote location. A blood inflow cannula having an outer surface and proximal and distal end portions. The distal end portion is configured for insertion into the chamber of the heart. First and second anchor elements have respective maximum width dimensions extending outwardly from the outer surface of the cannula. The first anchor element is positioned more distally than the second anchor element defining a tissue receiving space therebetween. The maximum width dimension of the first anchor element may be larger than the maximum width dimension of the second anchor element in use. The first anchor element is configured to be positioned inside the heart chamber and the second anchor element is configured to be positioned outside the heart chamber with heart tissue held in the tissue receiving space therebetween.

Abstract: A blood circulation assist system comprising an inflow cannula having a lumen and an insertion device configured to be received therein and to facilitate insertion of a portion of the inflow cannula into a heart chamber. The insertion device includes a shaft having distal and proximal end portions and a plurality of lumens. A first lumen is configured to receive a guidewire and a second lumen is configured to receive a pressurized fluid. A tip connected to the distal end portion of the shaft is configured for insertion into the heart chamber. The tip has a hollow interior communicating with the first shaft lumen. An inflatable member is coupled to the distal end portion of the shaft and includes a hollow interior in fluid communication with the second shaft lumen. The inflatable member is movable between deflated and inflated configurations for releasably securing the insertion device to the inflow cannula.

Abstract: A fluid flow system for a patient is disclosed. A fluid drive module includes a fluid drive element, a housing, and a chamber located between the housing and the fluid drive element. A controller or control module modifies the speed of the fluid drive element during use, such as to prevent thrombus or otherwise improve flow conditions. Methods of alternating fluid flow are also provided.

Abstract: An implantable connector assembly (14) for communicating an element to an implantable device (12) within a patient (20) comprises a plug (16), a receptacle (18), and a pair of communication structures (72, 108). The plug (16) includes a plunger body (64). The receptacle (18) includes a sleeve (98) and a stopper (114). The sleeve (98) defines an opening (104), and the stopper (114) is resiliently mounted within the sleeve (98) to cover and fluidly seal the opening (104). The pair of communication structures (72, 108) is positioned respectively on the plunger body (64) and the sleeve (98). One of the communication structures (72, 108) connects to a source and the other communication structure (108, 72) connects to the implantable device (12). The plunger body (64) inserts into the sleeve (98) to displace the stopper (114) and couple the pair of communication structures (72, 108) for communication of the element therebetween.

Abstract: An implantable blood pump includes an impeller rotatable about a rotational axis, having a body with a bottom surface at a downstream end and a central opening centered about the axis extending at least partially through the body from the bottom surface. A projecting element, e.g., a shaft, extends from below the bottom surface into or through the opening to support the impeller. The body can be configured to drive a primary downstream blood flow along an exterior of the body to beyond a peripheral edge of the bottom surface, and to provide a secondary downstream blood flow through the opening and along the bottom surface to beyond the peripheral edge, the secondary flow improving washing of a bearing surface.

Abstract: An implantable blood pump includes an impeller rotatable about a rotational axis, having a body with a bottom surface at a downstream end and a central opening centered about the axis extending at least partially through the body from the bottom surface. A projecting element, e.g., a shaft, extends from below the bottom surface into or through the opening to support the impeller. The body can be configured to drive a primary downstream blood flow along an exterior of the body to beyond a peripheral edge of the bottom surface, and to provide a secondary downstream blood flow through the opening and along the bottom surface to beyond the peripheral edge, the secondary flow improving washing of a bearing surface.

Abstract: A blood pump comprises a pump casing having a blood flow inlet and a blood flow outlet, and an impeller arranged in said pump casing and rotatably supported in the pump casing by a bearing so as to be rotatable about an axis of rotation. The impeller has blades for conveying blood from the blood flow inlet to the blood flow outlet. The bearing comprises at least one stationary bearing portion coupled to the pump casing and having a stationary bearing surface that faces radially outwards. The bearing further comprises a rotating bearing surface interacting with the stationary bearing surface to form the bearing, wherein the rotating bearing surface faces radially inwards and is formed on an exposed radially inner edge of the blades. The blades are designed to draw blood deposit on the stationary bearing surface in a radially outward direction.

Abstract: The invention relates to a blood pump made of titanium with a measuring device for determining flow based on acoustic flow measurement methods, and a blood pump with a temperature sensor and/or a pressure sensor, and a system with a blood pump and an inlet cannula and/or an outlet connector and a method for producing a blood pump with a measuring device.

Abstract: Devices, systems and methods for establishing a blood flow conduit between a chamber in a heart of a patient and a remote location. A blood inflow cannula having an outer surface and proximal and distal end portions. The distal end portion is configured for insertion into the chamber of the heart. First and second anchor elements have respective maximum width dimensions extending outwardly from the outer surface of the cannula. The first anchor element is positioned more distally than the second anchor element defining a tissue receiving space therebetween. The maximum width dimension of the first anchor element may be larger than the maximum width dimension of the second anchor element in use. The first anchor element is configured to be positioned inside the heart chamber and the second anchor element is configured to be positioned outside the heart chamber with heart tissue held in the tissue receiving space therebetween.

Abstract: A blood circulation assist system comprising an inflow cannula having a lumen and an insertion device configured to be received therein and to facilitate insertion of a portion of the inflow cannula into a heart chamber. The insertion device includes a shaft having distal and proximal end portions and a plurality of lumens. A first lumen is configured to receive a guidewire and a second lumen is configured to receive a pressurized fluid. A tip connected to the distal end portion of the shaft is configured for insertion into the heart chamber. The tip has a hollow interior communicating with the first shaft lumen. An inflatable member is coupled to the distal end portion of the shaft and includes a hollow interior in fluid communication with the second shaft lumen. The inflatable member is movable between deflated and inflated configurations for releasably securing the insertion device to the inflow cannula.

Abstract: Devices, systems and methods for establishing a blood flow conduit between a chamber in a heart of a patient and a remote location. A blood inflow cannula having an outer surface and proximal and distal end portions. The distal end portion is configured for insertion into the chamber of the heart. First and second anchor elements have respective maximum width dimensions extending outwardly from the outer surface of the cannula. The first anchor element is positioned more distally than the second anchor element defining a tissue receiving space therebetween. The maximum width dimension of the first anchor element may be larger than the maximum width dimension of the second anchor element in use. The first anchor element is configured to be positioned inside the heart chamber and the second anchor element is configured to be positioned outside the heart chamber with heart tissue held in the tissue receiving space therebetween.

Abstract: A blood circulation assist system comprising an inflow cannula having a lumen and an insertion device configured to be received therein and to facilitate insertion of a portion of the inflow cannula into a heart chamber. The insertion device includes a shaft having distal and proximal end portions and a plurality of lumens. A first lumen is configured to receive a guidewire and a second lumen is configured to receive a pressurized fluid. A tip connected to the distal end portion of the shaft is configured for insertion into the heart chamber. The tip has a hollow interior communicating with the first shaft lumen. An inflatable member is coupled to the distal end portion of the shaft and includes a hollow interior in fluid communication with the second shaft lumen. The inflatable member is movable between deflated and inflated configurations for releasably securing the insertion device to the inflow cannula.