Patents Assigned to Thoratec Corporation
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Patent number: 8535211Abstract: A blood pump includes an impeller having a plurality of foldable blades and a cannula having a proximal portion with a fixed diameter, and a distal portion with an expandable diameter. The impeller can reside in the expandable portion of the cannula. The cannula has a collapsed condition for percutaneous delivery to a desired location within the body, and an expanded condition in which the impeller can rotate to pump blood. A flexible drive shaft can extend through the cannula for rotationally driving the impeller within the patient's body.Type: GrantFiled: July 1, 2010Date of Patent: September 17, 2013Assignees: Thoratec Corporation, The Penn State Research FoundationInventors: Robert L. Campbell, Justin M. Walsh, Daniel Metrey, Robert F. Kunz, Thomas M. Mallison, Edward Boone, Eric Myer, Mark W. McBride, Kevin J. Powell, Daniel A. Walters
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Publication number: 20130225910Abstract: A pump assembly 1, 33, 200 adapted for continuous flow pumping of blood. In a particular from the pump 1, 200 is a centrifugal pump wherein the impeller 100, 204 is entirely sealed within the pump housing 2, 201 and is exclusively hydrodynamically suspended therein as the impeller rotates within the fluid 105 urged by electromagnetic means external to the pump cavity 106, 203. Hydrodynamic suspension is assisted by the impeller 100, 204 having deformities therein such as blades 8 with surfaces tapered from the leading edges 102, 223 to the trailing edges 103, 224 of bottom and top edges 221, 222 thereof.Type: ApplicationFiled: February 4, 2013Publication date: August 29, 2013Applicant: Thoratec CorporationInventor: Thoratec Corporation
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Patent number: 8506471Abstract: In order to produce a pulsatile blood flow pattern that includes time periods of relatively high blood flow rates and time periods of relatively low blood flow rates, the operating speed of a blood pump can be selectively controlled to produce an operating speed pattern that includes time periods of relatively high rotation speeds and periods of relatively low rotation speeds. For example, the blood pump is rotated at a first speed for a first period of time. The speed of the blood pump is then decreased from the first speed to a second speed and is operated at the second speed for a second amount of time. The speed of the blood pump is then decreased to a third speed for a third amount of time. If desired, the operating speed pattern can be repeated to continue the pulsatile blood flow pattern.Type: GrantFiled: September 23, 2011Date of Patent: August 13, 2013Assignee: Thoratec CorporationInventor: Kevin Bourque
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Publication number: 20130183176Abstract: 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.Type: ApplicationFiled: January 11, 2013Publication date: July 18, 2013Applicant: THORATEC CORPORATIONInventor: THORATEC CORPORATION
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Patent number: 8485961Abstract: Disclosed herein are heart pumps that include a catheter assembly and that can be applied percutaneously. Some embodiments include a locking device that prevents components of the catheter assembly from being separated when in use. The catheter assembly can include an expandable tip. In some embodiments, the catheter assembly includes a housing having a wall structure, a portion of which can have a bulbuous shape or can be deformable. In other embodiments, the housing can be configured to reduce fluttering or deflection of the housing and/or to maintain a gap between the housing and an impeller blade disposed therein.Type: GrantFiled: January 4, 2012Date of Patent: July 16, 2013Assignees: Thoratec Corporation, The Penn State Research FoundationInventors: Robert L. Campbell, Keif Fitzgerald, William James Harrison, Boris Leschinsky, Thomas M. Mallison, Mark W. McBride, Adam Roslund, Daniel A. Walters, Phyllis Yuen
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Publication number: 20130178932Abstract: A percutaneous cable includes a cable body having a first end and second end, the cable body including a sheath adapted to traverse a patient's skin. The cable includes a plurality of conductors disposed within the cable body configured to transmit power and control data between a system controller and two implantable pumps. The cable includes a first connector disposed at the first end of the cable body and coupled to the plurality of conductors, the first connector configured to connect the cable body to the system controller. The cable includes a second connector disposed at the second end of the cable body, the second connector comprising a first set of contacts and a second set of contacts.Type: ApplicationFiled: March 4, 2013Publication date: July 11, 2013Applicant: THORATEC CORPORATIONInventor: Thoratec Corporation
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Patent number: 8449444Abstract: Materials and methods related to blood pump systems are described. These can be used in patients to, for example, monitor arterial pressure, measure blood flow, maintain left ventricular pressure within a particular range, avoid left ventricular collapse, prevent fusion of the aortic valve in a subject having a blood pump, and provide a means to wean a patient from a blood pump.Type: GrantFiled: February 27, 2009Date of Patent: May 28, 2013Assignee: Thoratec CorporationInventor: Victor Poirier
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Publication number: 20130129503Abstract: 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.Type: ApplicationFiled: January 11, 2013Publication date: May 23, 2013Applicants: THORATEC CORPORATION, THE PENN STATE RESEARCH FOUNDATIONInventors: The Penn State Research Foundation, Thoratec Corporation
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Publication number: 20130108489Abstract: A rotary pump including an impeller rotatable within a housing. A load is imposed on the impeller as it rotates, in a direction that is substantially parallel to the axis of rotation and wherein the load stabilises the motion of the impeller. The load may be achieved by magnetically biasing the impeller.Type: ApplicationFiled: December 19, 2012Publication date: May 2, 2013Applicant: Thoratec CorporationInventor: Thoratec Corporation
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Patent number: 8425398Abstract: Materials and methods related to blood pump systems are described. These can be used in patients to, for example, monitor arterial pressure, measure blood flow, maintain left ventricular pressure within a particular range, avoid left ventricular collapse, prevent fusion of the aortic valve in a subject having a blood pump, and provide a means to wean a patient from a blood pump.Type: GrantFiled: February 27, 2009Date of Patent: April 23, 2013Assignee: Thoratec CorporationInventor: Victor Poirier
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Publication number: 20130066140Abstract: 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.Type: ApplicationFiled: September 14, 2012Publication date: March 14, 2013Applicants: THORATEC CORPORATION, THE PENN STATE RESEARCH FOUNDATIONInventors: Mark W. McBride, David A. Boger, Robert L. Campbell, Gregory P. Dillon, Stephen A. Hambric, Robert F. Kunz, Boris Leschinsky, Thomas M. Mallison, James P. Runt, Justin M. Walsh
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Patent number: 8388649Abstract: The invention comprises an embolization device for insertably sealing a cannula. The embolization device comprises a sealing cap at a first end and a carrier surface at a second end. The carrier surface is adapted to carry a coagulating material and induces an embolism at a position proximal to the second end and an elongate stem adapted to be inserted within the cannula.Type: GrantFiled: March 5, 2007Date of Patent: March 5, 2013Assignee: Thoratec CorporationInventors: John Campbell Woodard, Geoffrey Douglass Tansley
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Patent number: 8388384Abstract: A percutaneous cable includes a cable body having a first end and second end, the cable body including a sheath adapted to traverse a patient's skin. The cable includes a plurality of conductors disposed within the cable body configured to transmit power and control data between a system controller and two implantable pumps. The cable includes a first connector disposed at the first end of the cable body and coupled to the plurality of conductors, the first connector configured to connect the cable body to the system controller. The cable includes a second connector disposed at the second end of the cable body, the second connector comprising a first set of contacts and a second set of contacts.Type: GrantFiled: June 7, 2011Date of Patent: March 5, 2013Assignee: Thoratec CorporationInventor: Christopher James Cotter
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Publication number: 20130052038Abstract: A pump assembly and estimation and control system therefor, the pump adapted for continuous flow pumping of blood. In a particular form, the pump is a centrifugal pump wherein the impeller is entirely sealed within the pump housing and is exclusively hydrodynamically suspended therein against movement in three translational and two rotational degrees of freedom as the impeller rotates within the fluid urged by electromagnetic means external to the pump cavity. Hydrodynamic suspension is assisted by the impeller having deformities therein such as blades with surfaces tapered from the leading edges to the trailing edges of bottom and top surfaces thereof.Type: ApplicationFiled: August 24, 2012Publication date: February 28, 2013Applicant: Thoratec CorporationInventors: Peter Joseph Ayre, Geoffrey Douglas Tansley, Peter Andrew Watterson, John Campbell Woodard
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Patent number: 8376707Abstract: 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.Type: GrantFiled: March 25, 2011Date of Patent: February 19, 2013Assignees: Thoratec Corporation, The Penn State Research FoundationInventors: Mark W. McBride, Thomas M. Mallison, Gregory P. Dillon, Robert L. Campbell, David A. Boger, Stephen A. Hambric, Robert F. Kunz, James P. Runt, Justin M. Walsh, Boris Leschinsky
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Patent number: 8366599Abstract: An axial flow rotary blood pump including an impeller adapted to be magnetically rotated within a housing by the interaction of magnets disposed on or in the impeller and stators disposed on or in the housing. The impeller includes at least one support ring supporting a plurality of blades, and a hydrodynamic bearing that operates at least axially and radially in respect of an axis of rotation of the impeller.Type: GrantFiled: August 20, 2010Date of Patent: February 5, 2013Assignee: Thoratec CorporationInventors: Geoffrey Douglas Tansley, Martin Christopher Cook, John Campbell Woodard
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Patent number: 8366381Abstract: A pump assembly 1, 33, 200 adapted for continuous flow pumping of blood. In a particular from the pump 1, 200 is a centrifugal pump wherein the impeller 100, 204 is entirely sealed within the pump housing 2, 201 and is exclusively hydrodynamically suspended therein as the impeller rotates within the fluid 105 urged by electromagnetic means external to the pump cavity 106, 203. Hydrodynamic suspension is assisted by the impeller 100, 204 having deformities therein such as blades 8 with surfaces tapered from the leading edges 102, 223 to the trailing edges 103, 224 of bottom and top edges 221, 222 thereof.Type: GrantFiled: July 12, 2011Date of Patent: February 5, 2013Assignee: Thoratec CorporationInventors: John Campbell Woodard, Peter Andrew Watterson, Geoffrey Douglas Tansley
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Patent number: 8353686Abstract: A rotary pump including an impeller rotatable within a housing. A load is imposed on the impeller as it rotates, in a direction that is substantially parallel to the axis of rotation and wherein the load stabilizes the motion of the impeller. The load may be achieved by magnetically biasing the impeller.Type: GrantFiled: October 13, 2009Date of Patent: January 15, 2013Assignee: Thoratec CorporationInventor: Martin Christopher Cook
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Patent number: 8343028Abstract: A device and method for creating a connection with the left ventricle of a heart are provided. A seal member capable of moving between a folded position and an open position is attached to the end of a conduit. An introducer capable of moving between a first and second position allows for the expansion of the seal member into an open position. A clamp component is positioned outside of the heart to provide an axial clamping force with the wall of the heart so that a seal is created between the seal member and the wall of the heart.Type: GrantFiled: October 17, 2006Date of Patent: January 1, 2013Assignee: Thoratec CorporationInventors: Igor Gregoric, Branislav Radovancevic, Alex Y. Hsia
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Patent number: D671646Type: GrantFiled: April 21, 2011Date of Patent: November 27, 2012Assignee: Thoratec CorporationInventors: Kevin Bourque, Christopher James Cotter, Justin Aron Callaway