Patents Assigned to TC1 LLC
  • Catheter pump introducer systems and methods
    Patent number: 10709829
    Abstract: A catheter system for a catheter pump is disclosed. The system can include an elongate catheter body having a distal portion including an expandable cannula having an inlet and an outlet. The expandable cannula can have a delivery profile and an operational profile larger than the delivery profile. An impeller assembly can include an impeller shaft and an impeller body. A sheath can have a cannula retention zone disposed over the expandable cannula and a separation zone. The cannula retention zone can have a first configuration adapted to retain the expandable cannula in the delivery profile. The system can be adapted to separate the separation zone into a first portion and a second portion disposed across a gap. The gap can enable the elongate catheter body to pass between the first and second portion so that the sheath can be removed from the elongate catheter body.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 20, 2018
    Date of Patent: July 14, 2020
    Assignee: TC1 LLC
    Inventor: Paul F. Muller
  • Reduced rotational mass motor assembly for catheter pump
    Patent number: 10709830
    Abstract: A catheter pump is disclosed. The catheter pump can include an impeller and a catheter body having a lumen in which waste fluid flows proximally therethrough during operation of the catheter pump. The catheter pump can also include a drive shaft disposed inside the catheter body. A motor assembly can include a chamber. The motor assembly can include a rotor disposed in the at least a portion of the chamber, the rotor mechanically coupled with a proximal portion of the drive shaft such that rotation of the rotor causes the drive shaft to rotate, the rotor including a longitudinal rotor lumen therethrough. The motor assembly can also comprise a stator assembly disposed about the rotor. During operation of the catheter pump, the waste fluid flows from the lumen into the chamber such that at least a portion of the waste fluid flows proximally through the longitudinal rotor lumen.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 28, 2017
    Date of Patent: July 14, 2020
    Assignee: TC1 LLC
    Inventors: Adam R. Tanner, Paul F. Muller, Alan Schenck, Michael R. Butler, Todd Jenkins
  • Ventricular assist devices having a hollow rotor and methods of use
    Patent number: 10702641
    Abstract: Blood pumps for ventricular assist devices employ a hollow rotor to impel blood through the blood pump. A blood pump includes a housing having a housing inlet, a housing outlet, and a housing blood flow channel through which the housing inlet and the housing outlet are in fluid communication. A motor stator is disposed around the housing blood flow channel and operable to generate a rotating magnetic field. A hollow rotor is disposed within the housing blood flow channel and rotated via the rotating magnetic field. The hollow rotor has a rotor circumferential wall enclosing a rotor blood flow channel. The hollow rotor has at least one rotor blade extending inwardly from the rotor circumferential wall. The at least one rotor blade is configured to impel blood through the rotor blood flow channel when the hollow rotor is rotated via the rotating magnetic field.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 29, 2016
    Date of Patent: July 7, 2020
    Assignee: TC1 LLC
    Inventors: Eric T. Lee, William V. Hodges, Yi-Ren Woo
  • Methods for physical authentication of medical devices during wireless pairing
    Patent number: 10701043
    Abstract: Systems and methods for physical authentication of medical devices during wireless pairing are disclosed herein. The method can include receiving a request to initiate coupling. Following the request, a visual identifier can be generated with a light source. The visual identifier can include embedded data used to couple the medical devices. The visual identifier can be captured in image data, which image data can be analyzed and the embedded data can be extracted from the image data. Based on the embedded data that is extracted from the image data, secure coupling between medical devices can be established.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 21, 2018
    Date of Patent: June 30, 2020
    Assignee: TC1 LLC
    Inventor: Kevin Heppell
  • Resonant power transfer systems with communications
    Patent number: 10695476
    Abstract: Methods and apparatus for wireless power transfer and communications are provided. In one embodiment, a wireless power transfer system comprises an external transmit resonator configured to transmit wireless power, an implantable receive resonator configured to receive the transmitted wireless power from the transmit resonator, and a user interface device comprising a resonant coil circuit, the resonant coil circuit being configured to receive magnetic communication signals from the transmit resonator or the receive resonator and to display information relating to the magnetic communication signals to a user of the user interface device.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 11, 2014
    Date of Patent: June 30, 2020
    Assignee: TC1 LLC
    Inventor: John Freddy Hansen
  • Self-tuning resonant power transfer systems
    Patent number: 10693299
    Abstract: Systems and designs for tuning a wireless power transfer system are provided, which may include any number of features. In one embodiment, a wireless power transfer system can be configured such that resonant frequencies of the system move towards an operating frequency of the system as a coupling coefficient between the transmit and receive resonators becomes smaller. In another embodiment, a receive controller can be configured to control a current delivered to a DC load by comparing an actual current at the DC load to a current requested by the DC load and adjusting an angle or a magnitude of a voltage at the DC load to match the requested current. In another embodiment, a rectifier circuit can act as a controlled voltage source and be configured to tune resonant frequencies between the transmit resonator and the receive resonator. Methods of use are also provided.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 11, 2018
    Date of Patent: June 23, 2020
    Assignee: TC1 LLC
    Inventors: Ethan Petersen, John Freddy Hansen
  • HEART BEAT IDENTIFICATION AND PUMP SPEED SYNCHRONIZATION
    Publication number: 20200187787
    Abstract: A method for synchronizing operation of a heart assist pump device to a patient's cardiac cycle includes obtaining a signal from a motor of a heart assist pump device and filtering the signal to remove noise. The method also includes determining a speed synchronization start point at which time the motor of the heart assist pump device will begin a change in speed of operation based on the filtered signal. The method further includes modulating a speed of the motor of the heart assist pump device to a target speed at the speed synchronization start point, thereby synchronizing the change in speed of operation with a patient's cardiac cycle.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 13, 2019
    Publication date: June 18, 2020
    Applicant: TC1 LLC
    Inventors: Alexander Medvedev, Shunzhou Yu, Ren You
  • Methods of Transferring Power to an Implanted Medical Device Employing a Prosthetic Rib Segment
    Publication number: 20200171228
    Abstract: A method of transferring electrical power to a medical device implanted in a patient includes supporting a prosthetic rib segment via a rib of the patient. A percutaneous electrical connector is supported via the prosthetic rib segment so as to expose a connection port of the electrical connector via a skin aperture through a skin portion of the patient. Electrical power is transferred to the medical device via an external power cable connected to the connection port and an implanted power cable connected with the percutaneous electrical connector.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 5, 2020
    Publication date: June 4, 2020
    Applicant: TC1 LLC
    Inventor: Kevin Bourque
  • Resonant power transmission coils and systems
    Patent number: 10668197
    Abstract: An improved wireless transmission system for transferring power over a distance. The system includes a transmitter generating a magnetic field and a receiver for inducing a voltage in response to the magnetic field. In various respects, the receiver is configured to be implanted in a body. The receiver may include a housing enclosing a receiving coil and associated electronic components, a covering around at least a portion of the housing, and at least two wires wrapped around the housing to form a plurality of turns. The covering may be formed of a ferrite material configured to both magnetically shield a respective portion of the internal volume of the housing and redirect incoming magnetic flux from the transmitter to improve efficiency. Methods of use are also provided.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 14, 2019
    Date of Patent: June 2, 2020
    Assignee: TC1 LLC
    Inventor: John Freddy Hansen
  • Methods and systems for bone conduction audible alarms for mechanical circulatory support systems
    Patent number: 10665080
    Abstract: A method for transmitting an alarm for a circulatory support system includes receiving an inaudible signal with a signal processor coupled to a hearing implant anchored in a bone behind a patient's ear. The inaudible signal is associated with an alarm of the system. A second alarm signal is transmitted along the bone to an inner ear of the patient based on the inaudible signal such that it is audibly perceived. A method for transmitting an alarm for a circulatory support system to a hearing implant anchored behind an ear of a patient includes receiving an inaudible signal with a signal processor that is coupled to the hearing implant. The inaudible signal is associated with an alarm of the system. A second alarm signal is transmitted to an inner ear of the patient based on the inaudible signal such that the second alarm signal is audibly perceived by the patient.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 19, 2017
    Date of Patent: May 26, 2020
    Assignee: TC1 LLC
    Inventor: Eric Lee
  • Cantilevered rotor pump and methods for axial flow blood pumping
    Patent number: 10646630
    Abstract: Blood pump devices having improved rotor design are provided herein. Such blood pump devices include rotors having cantilevered support through a sealed mechanical bearing disposed outside a blood flow path of the device so as to avoid thrombus formation caused by blood contact with the bearing. The bearing means can be rotatably coupled with a proximal portion of the rotor shaft extending outside the fluid path, while a stator drives rotation of the rotor shaft so that one or more rotor blades on a distal portion of the rotor force blood flow through the device. The bearing means may include one or more radial bearings on a proximal portion of the rotor shaft that are isolated from the blood flow path by one or more rotary seals.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 26, 2018
    Date of Patent: May 12, 2020
    Assignee: TC1 LLC
    Inventor: William V. Hodges
  • Resonant power transfer systems with protective algorithm
    Patent number: 10644514
    Abstract: Systems for tuning a wireless power transfer system are provided, which may include any number of features. In one embodiment, a TET system includes a receive resonator is adapted to be implanted in a human patient and is configured to receive wireless power from a transmit resonator. The system can include a controller configured to identify if a foreign object is interfering with the transmission of power or generating an induced voltage in the receive resonator. The controller can also be configured to control the transmit resonator to phase match with the foreign object. Methods of use are also provided.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 15, 2019
    Date of Patent: May 5, 2020
    Assignee: TC1 LLC
    Inventor: John Freddy Hansen
  • Malleable TETS coil with improved anatomical fit
    Patent number: 10636566
    Abstract: Systems and methods for wireless energy transfer are described. A transmitter unit has a transmitter resonator with a coil that is coupled to a power supply to wirelessly transmit power to a receiver unit. A receiver unit has a receiver resonator with a coil coupled to a device load. At least one of the resonators is a malleable, non-planar resonator that can be bent and shaped to conform to a patient's anatomy.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 26, 2019
    Date of Patent: April 28, 2020
    Assignee: TC1 LLC
    Inventors: Carine Hoarau, Steven Reichenbach, Don Hannula
  • Magnetic power transmission utilizing phased transmitter coil arrays and phased receiver coil arrays
    Patent number: 10637303
    Abstract: An improved wireless transmission system for transferring power over a distance. The system includes a transmitter generating a magnetic field and a receiver for inducing a voltage in response to the magnetic field. In some embodiments, the transmitter can include a plurality of transmitter resonators configured to transmit wireless power to the receiver. The transmitter resonators can be disposed on a flexible substrate adapted to conform to a patient. In one embodiment, the polarities of magnetic flux received by the receiver can be measured and communicated to the transmitter, which can adjust polarities of the transmitter resonators to optimize power transfer. Methods of use are also provided.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 4, 2018
    Date of Patent: April 28, 2020
    Assignee: TC1 LLC
    Inventors: John Freddy Hansen, Ethan Petersen
  • Fluid handling system
    Patent number: 10632241
    Abstract: Various embodiments of a fluid handling system are disclosed herein. For example, the fluid handling system can include a catheter assembly and a console configured to control the operation of the catheter assembly. A removable interface member can be configured to provide fluid and electrical communication between the catheter assembly and the console.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 30, 2016
    Date of Patent: April 28, 2020
    Assignee: TC1 LLC
    Inventors: Alan Schenck, Michael L. Green, Keif M. Fitzgerald, Paul F. Muller, Joseph P. Sullivan, Keith Schubert, Peter W. Bristol, Jeffrey Paul Mills, Paul C. Leonard, Richard L. Keenan
  • Ventricular Cuff
    Publication number: 20200108191
    Abstract: An implantable system includes a ventricular assist device and a cuff for attachment to a heart. The ventricular assist device includes an inlet cannula. The cuff defines an opening for insertion of the inlet cannula into the opening. The cuff includes an annular fastening member and an attachment member. The annular fastening member is configured to be sutured to heart tissue. The attachment member includes flexible extensions. Each of the flexible extensions is configured to interface with the inlet cannula during insertion of the inlet cannula into the opening so as to cause the flexible extension to flex outward to accommodate passing of the inlet cannula along the opening. Each of the flexible extensions is configured to interface with the inlet cannula to impede extraction of the inlet cannula from the opening.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 5, 2019
    Publication date: April 9, 2020
    Applicant: TC1 LLC
    Inventors: Justin Aron Callaway, Christopher James Cotter, Cori Pierce, Maria Dominika Kulinski, Ben Gamulo, Kevin Bourque, Jeff Narum
  • Resonant power transfer systems with communications
    Patent number: 10615642
    Abstract: Methods and apparatus for wireless power transfer and communications are provided. In one embodiment, a wireless power transfer system comprises a transmit resonator configured to transmit wireless power, a receive resonator configured to receive the transmitted wireless power from the transmit resonator, a medical device configured to receive power from the receive resonator, a controller configured to change an operating parameter of the medical device resulting in a change to a sonic signature of the medical device, and a listening device configured to determine an intended communication from the implanted medical device or the implanted receive resonator based on the change to the sonic signature coming from the implanted medical device.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 11, 2014
    Date of Patent: April 7, 2020
    Assignee: TC1 LLC
    Inventors: John Freddy Hansen, Ian Coll McEachern
  • Electrical connectors for implantable devices
    Patent number: 10610692
    Abstract: Disclosed are systems for wireless energy transfer including transcutaneous energy transfer. Embodiments are disclosed for electrical connections between an implanted wireless receiver and an implanted medical device powered by the receiver. Methods for manufacturing and using the devices and system are also disclosed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 6, 2015
    Date of Patent: April 7, 2020
    Assignee: TC1 LLC
    Inventors: David Eldridge, Joseph C. Stark, III
  • Adaptive Speed Control Algorithms and Controllers for Optimizing Flow in Ventricular Assist Devices
    Publication number: 20200093972
    Abstract: Method and systems control a rotational speed of a blood pump during ventricular diastole. A method includes controlling a blood pump in accordance with a first segment operational mode. A controller monitors the blood flow rate through the blood pump. The controller determines, based on the blood flow rate, whether continued controlling of the blood pump per the first segment operational mode would result in the blood flow rate through the blood pump being less than a target minimum blood flow rate. In response to a determination that continued controlling of the blood pump per the first segment operational mode would result in the blood flow rate through the blood pump being less than the target minimum blood flow rate, the controller controls the rotational speed of the blood pump so that the blood flow rate through the blood pump is approximate to the target minimum blood flow rate.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 27, 2019
    Publication date: March 26, 2020
    Applicant: TC1 LLC
    Inventors: Charles Dague, Dan Harjes
  • Catheter pump with off-set motor position
    Patent number: 10583232
    Abstract: A catheter pump assembly is provided that includes an elongate body, an elongate flexible shaft disposed in the elongate body, and an impeller coupled with the distal end of the elongate flexible shaft. The drive system includes a drive component, a motor and a tension member. The tension member is coupled with the motor and the drive component and to cause the drive component to rotate, and thereby to cause the impeller to rotate.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 15, 2015
    Date of Patent: March 10, 2020
    Assignee: TC1 LLC
    Inventor: Paul F. Muller