Abstract: The current invention provides an enclosure that can be placed over a patient in order to contain bodily fluids. The device includes a clear plastic sheet that fits snugly over a frame. The sides of the device contain access ports for physicians or their instruments to enter the patient’s area. These ports may be holes or hanging strips of sheet that overlap so that they form a sufficient seal while also allowing easy access to the patient when pushed aside. The bottoms of the sheet may contain weights to hold the sheet down. There is the possibility of including filters or positive/negative air flow ports. The entire device may be disposable. The frame may be solid, or the frame may pop open like an enclosure or umbrella. The device may also have straps that can be tightened underneath the bed or stretcher to secure the entire device in place.

Abstract: A cardioprotective patch with an integrated cutting guide includes a membrane having a top edge, a bottom edge distal from the top edge, a right side edge connecting the top edge and the bottom edge; and a left side edge, distal from the right side edge and connecting the top edge and the bottom edge. A fold extends parallel to the top edge about half way between the top edge and the bottom edge. The crease is slit from the right side edge, forming a right slit. An elongate frame is fixedly connected to the membrane. The frame includes a tubular member and a plurality of arms extending outwardly from the tubular member and connected to the membrane.

Abstract: One embodiment of the invention provides a variable pitch impeller for a blood pump. The variable pitch impeller includes: a flexible polymer defining a plurality of blades extending from a first end to a second end, the blades having a resting non-zero pitch; an external shaft coupled to a first end of the flexible polymer; and an internal shaft received within the external shaft and coupled to the second end of the flexible polymer. The internal shaft and the external shaft are rotatable with respect to each other to achieve a blade pitch between about 0.0001° and about 2,880°.

Abstract: A cardioprotective patch with an integrated cutting guide includes a membrane having a top edge, a bottom edge distal from the top edge, a right side edge connecting the top edge and the bottom edge; and a left side edge, distal from the right side edge and connecting the top edge and the bottom edge. A fold extends parallel to the top edge about half way between the top edge and the bottom edge. The crease is slit from the right side edge, forming a right slit. An elongate frame is fixedly connected to the membrane. The frame includes a tubular member and a plurality of arms extending outwardly from the tubular member and connected to the membrane.

Abstract: One embodiment of the invention provides a variable pitch impeller for a blood pump. The variable pitch impeller includes: a flexible polymer defining a plurality of blades extending from a first end to a second end, the blades having a resting non-zero pitch; an external shaft coupled to a first end of the flexible polymer; and an internal shaft received within the external shaft and coupled to the second end of the flexible polymer. The internal shaft and the external shaft are rotatable with respect to each other to achieve a blade pitch between about 0.0001° and about 2,880°.

Abstract: A blood pump has an impeller rotatably disposed and magnetically suspended within a cavity of a stator by a plurality of magnetic bearings (passive permanent and active electromagnetic) having impeller magnets on the impeller and stator magnets or coils/poles on the stator. A motor includes impeller magnets on the impeller and coils/poles associated with the stator. A single, annular blood flow path extends axially through the cavity between the impeller and the stator, and between the impeller magnets on the impeller and the stator magnets or the coils/poles on the stator.

Abstract: A blood pump has an impeller rotatably disposed and magnetically suspended within a cavity of a stator by a plurality of magnetic bearings (passive permanent and active electromagnetic) having impeller magnets on the impeller and stator magnets or coils/poles on the stator. A motor includes impeller magnets on the impeller and coils/poles associated with the stator. A single, annular blood flow path extends axially through the cavity between the impeller and the stator, and between the impeller magnets on the impeller and the stator magnets or the coils/poles on the stator.