Abstract: A blood pump includes a hub having an axis of rotation and a generally cylindrical shape. The hub has an upstream end region, a central region, and a downstream end region, and the hub includes a magnetic material. Blades that are disposed on the downstream end region of the hub extend downstream of the hub.

Abstract: A system for omni-orientational wireless energy transfer is described. A transmitter unit has a transmitter resonator with a coil that is configured to be 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 non-planar resonator that spans a non-degenerate two-dimensional surface having at least one concave portion.

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 receiver 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.

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.

Abstract: Disclosed herein is a method of pumping blood in a patient. The method includes inserting an impeller housing and impeller into the patient, the impeller disposed within the impeller housing and having a longitudinal axis, positioning the impeller housing and the impeller at a treatment location in the patient, activating an adjustment device at a proximal end portion of the heart pump outside the patient to provide relative motion between the impeller housing and the impeller along the longitudinal axis, and pumping blood through the impeller housing along the longitudinal axis.

Abstract: The present invention provides a rotary blood pump with both an attractive magnetic axial bearing and a hydrodynamic bearing. In one embodiment according to the present invention, a rotary pump includes an impeller assembly supported within a pump housing assembly by a magnetic axial bearing and a hydrodynamic bearing. The magnetic axial bearing includes at least two magnets oriented to attract each other. One magnet is positioned in the spindle of the pump housing while the other is disposed within the rotor assembly, proximate to the spindle. In this respect, the two magnets create an attractive axial force that at least partially maintains the relative axial position of the rotor assembly. The hydrodynamic bearing is formed between sloping surfaces that form tight clearances below the rotor assembly.

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.

Abstract: A centrifugal blood pump includes a housing that defines an inlet passage, a chamber, and an outlet passage. The pump includes an impeller rotatably positioned in the chamber to transfer blood from the inlet passage through the chamber and to the outlet passage and magnetic members embedded in the impeller such that the impeller and the magnetic members rotate together within the chamber. The pump includes a motor to control movement of the impeller in the chamber. The motor is adjacent the chamber and separated from the chamber by a partition member. The pump includes an inner annular magnetic member and an outer annular magnetic member embedded in a side of the housing opposite the partition member. A first net magnetic force between the inner annular magnetic member and the magnetic members exhibits greater attraction than a second net magnetic force between the outer annular member and the magnetic members.

Abstract: An impeller includes a hub, and a plurality of blades supported by the hub, the blades being arranged in at least two blade rows. The impeller has a deployed configuration in which the blades extend away from the hub, and a stored configuration in which at least one of the blades is radially compressed, for example by folding the blade towards the hub. The impeller may also have an operational configuration in which at least some of the blades are deformed from the deployed configuration upon rotation of the impeller when in the deployed configuration. The outer edge of one or more blades may have a winglet, and the base of the blades may have an associated indentation to facilitate folding of the blades.

Abstract: Methods, systems, and devices for an updatable blood pump are disclosed herein. The blood pump can be part of a mechanical circulatory support system that can include a system controller and the blood pump. The blood pump can include a rotary motor and a control unit that can communicate with the system controller. The system controller can initiate the update process and can provide the update to the blood pump. Upon initiation of the update process, the control unit can stop the rotary motor. While the rotary motor is stopped, the blood pump can be updated. At the completion of the update, the rotary pump can be restarted.

Abstract: A catheter pump assembly is provided that includes an elongate body assembly, a shaft, and an impeller. The assembly has a proximal end, a distal end and at least one lumen extending therebetween. The shaft is disposed at least partially within the elongate body, e.g., in the at least one lumen, and journaled for rotation. The impeller is coupled with a distal portion of the shaft. The impeller is configured to be rotated to induce flow of blood when the impeller is placed in fluid communication with a source of blood. An inflatable balloon brace is disposed on an outer surface of the catheter pump. The inflatable balloon brace is spaced proximally of the impeller and has a low profile configuration for delivery through the vasculature and an expanded configuration for disposing (e.g., position and/or orienting) the impeller within the source of blood.

Abstract: Apparatuses and methods relating to interfacing and controlling external batteries are described. In one embodiment, an external battery is integrated with a touch screen display. In one embodiment, the external battery provides an infrared communication link with a detachable device or system controller. In one embodiment, the external battery touch screen interface provides data received from a detachable device or system controller.

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 communications antenna in the implantable receive resonator configured to send communication information to the transmit resonator. The communications antenna can include a plurality of gaps positioned between adjacent conductive elements, the gaps being configured to prevent or reduce induction of current in the plurality of conductive elements when the antenna is exposed to a magnetic field.

Abstract: The present disclosure provides systems and methods for controlling wireless power transfer systems. A wireless power transfer system includes a transmitter driven by a power source and a transmit controller, wherein the transmitter is configured to control delivery of wireless power, and a receiver inductively coupled to the transmitter, the receiver configured to receive the wireless power from the transmitter and deliver the received wireless power to a load. The receiver includes receiver electronics configured to determine a Thevenin equivalent impedance of the wireless power transfer system, determine a Thevenin equivalent source voltage of the wireless power transfer system, and control, based on the determined Thevenin equivalent impedance and the determined Thevenin equivalent source voltage, an ideal source voltage of the receiver to vary the amount of the wireless power transferred from the transmitter to the receiver.

Abstract: A rotary machine is provided which may include a rotor and a stator within a housing. The stator may be for generating a rotating magnetic field for applying a torque to the rotor. A commutator circuit may provide a plurality of phase voltages to the stator, and a controller may adjust the plurality of phase voltages provided by the commutator circuit to modify an attractive force of the stator on the rotor to move the rotor in an axial direction.

Abstract: An impeller includes a hub and a blade supported by the hub. The impeller has a stored configuration in which the blade is compressed so that its distal end moves towards the hub, and a deployed configuration in which the blade extends away from the hub. The impeller may be part of a pump for pumping fluids, such as blood, and may include a cannula having a proximal portion with a fixed diameter, and a distal portion with an expandable diameter. The impeller may reside in the expandable portion of the cannula. The cannula may have a compressed diameter which allows it to be inserted percutaneously into a patient. Once at a desired location, the expandable portion of the cannula may be expanded and the impeller expanded to the deployed configuration. A flexible drive shaft may extend through the cannula for rotationally driving the impeller within the patient.

Abstract: Disclosed are systems for wireless energy transfer including transcutaneous energy transfer. Embodiments are disclosed for user interface (UI) hubs to connect multiple batteries and to output system information to a patient. Embodiments are further disclosed for garments and devices to be worn by a patient requiring treatment. The garments are configured for a desired placement of a transmitter coil relative to a body of the patient and for facilitating patient comfort and quality of life. Methods for manufacturing and using the devices and the systems are also disclosed.

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.

Abstract: A fluid resistant electrical connector for an implantable medical device includes a first connector assembly and a second connector assembly. The first connector assembly includes a first housing, an elongated coupling member, and first electrical contacts distributed around the coupling member. The second connector assembly includes a second housing, second electrical contacts, and a retention member. The second housing has a coupling member receptacle and a retention member receptacle. The coupling member receptacle is shaped to accommodate a distal portion of the coupling member. The retention member is partially accommodated by the retention member receptacle and movable between an insertion configuration accommodating coupling of the first and second connector assemblies and a retention configuration retaining the coupling member to prevent inadvertent uncoupling of the electrical connector.

Abstract: A ventricular assist device is disclosed. The ventricular assist device may include a centrifugal pump and a controller. The controller may be configured to cause the centrifugal pump to operate at a first speed above a predetermined flow rate. The controller may also be configured to cause the centrifugal pump to operate at a second speed below the predetermined flow rate, wherein the predetermined flowrate is indicative of a crossover point between systole and diastole phases of a person's cardiac cycle.