Abstract: Systems and methods are provided herein for improving connections between a heart pump, such a left ventricular assist device (LVAD), and the heart and/or tubing such as a graft tube. An apical connector including a cylindrical housing and a ring support connected to the housing is described. The apical connector may include a sewing ring to be connected to the patient's heart and a spring positioned within the cylindrical housing to engage a portion of the pump and secure the apical connector to the pump. Alternatively, an apical connector may include an upper and lower housing with locks positioned in channels between the housings and may include a handle and a ring to cause the locks to engage a portion of the pump. A quick connect assembly is also described for efficiently connecting a graft tube to an outlet of a heart pump using a flange with through-holes and protrusions.

Abstract: Systems and methods for generating blood flow with a blood pump including a membrane and an encapsulated actuator are described. The pump may be implantable and may include a stator assembly, an electromagnetic assembly supported by the stator assembly, a magnetic assembly, one or more springs attached to the stator and the magnetic assembly, and encapsulation portions that connect the magnetic assembly to the stator assembly. The magnetic assembly may further be coupled to a membrane assembly including a flexible membrane. The electromagnetic assembly may be selectively activated to cause the magnetic assembly to reciprocate, thereby causing the membrane assembly to reciprocate and inducing wavelike undulations in the flexible membrane to pump blood from an inlet to an outlet of the pump. The encapsulation portions may prevent blood from interacting with an interior moving portion of the pump thereby reducing the risk of hemolysis.

Abstract: An implantable pump system is provided, suitable for use as a left ventricular assist device (LVAD) system, having an implantable pump, a battery, a controller, and a programmer. The implantable pump includes a flexible membrane coupled to an actuator assembly via a skirt that extends toward the inlet of the pump and curves to guide blood toward the outlet. The actuator assembly is magnetically engageable with electromagnetic coils, so that when the electromagnetic coils are energized, the actuator assembly causes wavelike undulations to propagate along the flexible membrane to propel blood from the inlet, across the skirt, and through the outlet of the implantable pump. The controller may be programmed by a programmer to operate at frequencies and duty cycles that mimic physiologic flow rates and pulsatility while operating in an efficient manner that avoids thrombus formation, hemolysis and/or platelet activation.

Abstract: An implantable pump system is provided, suitable for use as a left ventricular assist device (LVAD) system, having an implantable pump, an extracorporeal battery and a controller coupled to the implantable pump, and a programmer selectively periodically coupled to the controller to configure and adjust operating parameters of the implantable pump. The implantable pump includes a flexible membrane coupled to an actuator assembly that is magnetically engagable with electromagnetic coils, so that when the electromagnetic coils are energized, the actuator assembly causes wavelike undulations to propagate along the flexible membrane to propel blood from through the implantable pump. The controller may be programmed by a programmer to operate at frequencies and duty cycles that mimic physiologic flow rates and pulsatility while operating in an efficient manner that avoids thrombus formation, hemolysis and/or platelet activation.

Abstract: Systems and methods are provided herein for improving connections between a heart pump, such a left ventricular assist device (LVAD), and the heart and/or tubing such as a graft tube. An apical connector including a cylindrical housing and a ring support connected to the housing is described. The apical connector may include a sewing ring to be connected to the patient's heart and a spring positioned within the cylindrical housing to engage a portion of the pump and secure the apical connector to the pump. Alternatively, an apical connector may include an upper and lower housing with locks positioned in channels between the housings and may include a handle and a ring to cause the locks to engage a portion of the pump. A quick connect assembly is also described for efficiently connecting a graft tube to an outlet of a heart pump using a flange with through-holes and protrusions.

Abstract: Systems and methods are provided herein for improving connections between a heart pump such a left ventricular assist device (LVAD) and the heart and/or tubing such as a graft tube. An apical connector including a cylindrical housing and a ring support connected to the housing is described. The apical connector may include a sewing ring to be connected to the patient's heart and a spring positioned within the cylindrical housing to engage a portion of the pump and secure the apical connector to the pump. Alternatively, an apical connector may include an upper and lower housing with locks positioned in channels between the housings and may include a handle and a ring to cause the locks to engage a portion of the pump. A quick connect assembly is also described for efficiently connecting a graft tube to an outlet of a heart pump using a flange with through-holes and protrusions.

Abstract: An implantable pump system is provided, suitable for use as a left ventricular assist device (LVAD) system, having an implantable pump, an extracorporeal battery and a controller coupled to the implantable pump, and a programmer selectively periodically coupled to the controller to configure and adjust operating parameters of the implantable pump. The implantable pump includes a flexible membrane coupled to an actuator assembly that is magnetically engagable with electromagnetic coils, so that when the electromagnetic coils are energized, the actuator assembly causes wavelike undulations to propagate along the flexible membrane to propel blood from through the implantable pump. The controller may be programmed by a programmer to operate at frequencies and duty cycles that mimic physiologic flow rates and pulsatility while operating in an efficient manner that avoids thrombus formation, hemolysis and/or platelet activation.

Abstract: Systems and methods are provided herein for improving connections between a heart pump such a left ventricular assist device (LVAD) and the heart and/or tubing such as a graft tube. An apical connector including a cylindrical housing and a ring support connected to the housing is described. The apical connector may include a sewing ring to be connected to the patient's heart and a spring positioned within the cylindrical housing to engage a portion of the pump and secure the apical connector to the pump. Alternatively, an apical connector may include an upper and lower housing with locks positioned in channels between the housings and may include a handle and a ring to cause the locks to engage a portion of the pump. A quick connect assembly is also described for efficiently connecting a graft tube to an outlet of a heart pump using a flange with through-holes and protrusions.

Abstract: Systems and methods for generating blood flow with a blood pump including a membrane and an encapsulated actuator are described. The pump may be implantable and may include a stator assembly, an electromagnetic assembly supported by the stator assembly, a magnetic assembly, one or more springs attached to the stator and the magnetic assembly, and encapsulation portions that connect the magnetic assembly to the stator assembly. The magnetic assembly may further be coupled to a membrane assembly including a flexible membrane. The electromagnetic assembly may be selectively activated to cause the magnetic assembly to reciprocate, thereby causing the membrane assembly to reciprocate and inducing wavelike undulations in the flexible membrane to pump blood from an inlet to an outlet of the pump. The encapsulation portions may prevent blood from interacting with an interior moving portion of the pump thereby reducing the risk of hemolysis.

Abstract: An implantable pump system is provided, including an implantable blood pump suitable for use as a partial support assist device, the system further including an extracorporeal battery and a controller coupled to the implantable pump, and a programmer selectively periodically coupled to the controller to configure and adjust operating parameters of the implantable pump. The implantable pump includes a flexible membrane coupled to an electromagnetic actuator including a magnetic assembly and electromagnetic assembly, so that when the electromagnetic assembly is energized, the electromagnetic assembly causes wavelike undulations to propagate along the flexible membrane to propel blood through the implantable pump. The controller may be programmed by a programmer to operate at frequencies and duty cycles that mimic physiologic flow rates and pulsatility while operating in an efficient manner that avoids thrombus formation, hemolysis and/or platelet activation.

Abstract: An implantable cardiovascular blood pump system is provided, suitable for use as a left ventricular assist device (LVAD) system, having an implantable cardiovascular pump, an extracorporeal battery and a controller coupled to the implantable pump, and a programmer selectively periodically coupled to the controller to configure and adjust operating parameters of the implantable cardiovascular pump. The implantable cardiovascular blood pump includes a coaxial inflow cannula and outflow cannula in fluid communication with one another and with a pumping mechanism. The pumping mechanism may be a vibrating membrane pump which may include a flexible membrane coupled to an electromagnetic actuator assembly that causes wavelike undulations to propagate along the flexible membrane to propel blood through the implantable cardiovascular pump.

Abstract: An implantable pump system is provided, including an implantable blood pump suitable for use as a partial support assist device, the system further including an extracorporeal battery and a controller coupled to the implantable pump, and a programmer selectively periodically coupled to the controller to configure and adjust operating parameters of the implantable pump. The implantable pump includes a flexible membrane coupled to an electromagnetic actuator including a magnetic assembly and electromagnetic assembly, so that when the electromagnetic assembly is energized, the electromagnetic assembly causes wavelike undulations to propagate along the flexible membrane to propel blood through the implantable pump. The controller may be programmed by a programmer to operate at frequencies and duty cycles that mimic physiologic flow rates and pulsatility while operating in an efficient manner that avoids thrombus formation, hemolysis and/or platelet activation.

Abstract: An implantable pump system is provided, suitable for use as a left ventricular assist device (LVAD) system, having an implantable pump, a battery, a controller, and a programmer. The implantable pump includes a flexible membrane coupled to an actuator assembly via a skirt that extends toward the inlet of the pump and curves to guide blood toward the outlet. The actuator assembly is magnetically engageable with electromagnetic coils, so that when the electromagnetic coils are energized, the actuator assembly causes wavelike undulations to propagate along the flexible membrane to propel blood from the inlet, across the skirt, and through the outlet of the implantable pump. The controller may be programmed by a programmer to operate at frequencies and duty cycles that mimic physiologic flow rates and pulsatility while operating in an efficient manner that avoids thrombus formation, hemolysis and/or platelet activation.

Abstract: The present invention relates to an undulating-membrane fluid circulator having an intake port (3), a pump housing (4) delimiting a propulsion chamber (5), a discharge port (6), and an undulating membrane (2) paired with a drive means permitting an undulating movement of the membrane (2) between the upstream (8) and downstream (9) edges thereof, the undulating membrane (2) being capable of moving a fluid towards the discharge port (6). According to the invention, the circulator further comprises at least one means (7) for guiding the fluid, said means being disposed in the fluid propulsion chamber (5) near one of the edges (8, 9) of the undulating membrane (2) and making it possible to channel the fluid flow in a direction substantially parallel to the displacement of the wave along the membrane (2).

Abstract: An implantable pump system is provided, suitable for use as a left ventricular assist device (LVAD) system, having an implantable pump, a battery, a controller, and a programmer. The implantable pump includes a flexible membrane coupled to an actuator assembly via a skirt that extends toward the inlet of the pump and curves to guide blood toward the outlet. The actuator assembly is magnetically engagable with electromagnetic coils, so that when the electromagnetic coils are energized, the actuator assembly causes wavelike undulations to propagate along the flexible membrane to propel blood from the inlet, across the skirt, and through the outlet of the implantable pump. The controller may be programmed by a programmer to operate at frequencies and duty cycles that mimic physiologic flow rates and pulsatility while operating in an efficient manner that avoids thrombus formation, hemolysis and/or platelet activation.

Abstract: An implantable pump system is provided, suitable for use as a left ventricular assist device (LVAD) system, having an implantable pump, an extracorporeal battery and a controller coupled to the implantable pump, and a programmer selectively periodically coupled to the controller to configure and adjust operating parameters of the implantable pump. The implantable pump includes a flexible membrane coupled to an actuator assembly that is magnetically engagable with electromagnetic coils, so that when the electromagnetic coils are energized, the actuator assembly causes wavelike undulations to propagate along the flexible membrane to propel blood from through the implantable pump. The controller may be programmed by a programmer to operate at frequencies and duty cycles that mimic physiologic flow rates and pulsatility while operating in an efficient manner that avoids thrombus formation, hemolysis and/or platelet activation.

Abstract: An implantable pump system is provided, suitable for use as a left ventricular assist device (LVAD) system, having an implantable pump, an extracorporeal battery and a controller coupled to the implantable pump, and a programmer selectively periodically coupled to the controller to configure and adjust operating parameters of the implantable pump. The implantable pump includes a flexible membrane coupled to an actuator assembly that is magnetically engagable with electromagnetic coils, so that when the electromagnetic coils are energized, the actuator assembly causes wavelike undulations to propagate along the flexible membrane to propel blood from through the implantable pump. The controller may be programmed by a programmer to operate at frequencies and duty cycles that mimic physiologic flow rates and pulsatility while operating in an efficient manner that avoids thrombus formation, hemolysis and/or platelet activation.

Abstract: Systems and methods for controlling an implantable pump are provided. For example, the exemplary controller for controlling the implantable pump may only rely on the actuator's current measurement. The controller is robust to pressure and flow changes inside the pump head, and allows fast change of pump's operation point. For example, the controller includes, a two stage, nonlinear position observer module based on a reduced order model of the electromagnetic actuator. The controller includes an algorithm that estimates the position of the moving component of the implantable pump based on the actuator's current measurement and adjusts operation of the pump accordingly. Alternatively, the controller may rely on position measurements and/or velocity estimations.

Abstract: An apparatus for coupling a blood pump to a patients heart is provided. The apparatus includes a sewing ring designed to be sutured to the patients heart, wherein the sewing ring has an opening sized and shaped to receive an inflow cannula of the blood pump. The apparatus further includes a locking element coupled to a housing of the blood pump and transitionable between a closed state and an open state. The locking element is structured to receive the sewing ring in the open state and engage the sewing ring in the closed state to prevent translational and rotational movement of the locking element relative to the sewing ring. In addition, the apparatus includes a biased structure designed to bias the locking element in the closed state.

Abstract: An implantable cardiovascular blood pump system is provided, suitable for use as a left ventricular assist device (LVAD) system, having an implantable cardiovascular pump, an extracorporeal battery and a controller coupled to the implantable pump, and a programmer selectively periodically coupled to the controller to configure and adjust operating parameters of the implantable cardiovascular pump. The implantable cardiovascular blood pump includes a coaxial inflow cannula and outflow cannula in fluid communication with one another and with a pumping mechanism. The pumping mechanism may be a vibrating membrane pump which may include a flexible membrane coupled to an electromagnetic actuator assembly that causes wavelike undulations to propagate along the flexible membrane to propel blood through the implantable cardiovascular pump.