Abstract: The invention is an aspiration device that can be used to dislodge an object from a choking victim's airway or to remove water from a drowning victim's airway. The device comprises a hollow cylinder comprising a movable piston mounted within the cylinder interior. A system for automatically moving the piston rearwardly to expand the size of the cylinder chamber is provided. An airway extends between the cylinder chamber and a facemask so that air can be drawn into the cylinder chamber through the mask when the piston is moved in a rearward direction. A compressed spring disposed within the cylinder chamber can bias the piston in a rearward direction. A releasable latch that allows the piston to move from a forward position to a released position is housed within an endcap.

Abstract: A rotary blood pump includes a casing defining a pumping chamber. The pumping chamber has a blood inlet and a tangential blood outlet. One or more motor stators are provided outside of the pumping chamber. A rotatable impeller is within the pumping chamber and is adapted to cause blood entering the pumping chamber to move to the blood outlet. The impeller has one or more magnetic regions. The impeller is radially constrained in rotation by magnetic coupling to one or more motor stators and is axially constrained in rotation by one or more hydrodynamic thrust bearing surfaces on the impeller.

Abstract: A rotary blood pump includes a casing defining a pumping chamber. The pumping chamber has a blood inlet and a tangential blood outlet. One or more motor stators are provided outside of the pumping chamber. A rotatable impeller is within the pumping chamber and is adapted to cause blood entering the pumping chamber to move to the blood outlet. The impeller has one or more magnetic regions. The impeller is radially constrained in rotation by magnetic coupling to one or more motor stators and is axially constrained in rotation by one or more hydrodynamic thrust bearing surfaces on the impeller.

Abstract: A rotary blood pump includes a casing defining a pumping chamber. The pumping chamber has a blood inlet and a tangential blood outlet. One or more motor stators are provided outside of the pumping chamber. A rotatable impeller is within the pumping chamber and is adapted to cause blood entering the pumping chamber to move to the blood outlet. The impeller has one or more magnetic regions. The impeller is radially constrained in rotation by magnetic coupling to one or more motor stators and is axially constrained in rotation by one or more hydrodynamic thrust bearing surfaces on the impeller.

Abstract: A connector for connecting an implant device to tissue of a person's body. The connector including a frame having first and second arms. The first and second arms define an opening, where at least a portion of the implant device is inserted through the opening. After insertion, an additional securing member is connected to the frame. The securing member is adapted to receive at least one suture to secure the frame to the tissue. The connector includes an adjuster that is movably connected to the first and second arms, where the adjuster is operable to cause the first and second arms to move toward each other and engage the implant device.

Abstract: An axial-flow blood pump for pumping blood includes a substantially cylindrical outer enclosure. A tubular housing concentric with and located within the outer enclosure has at one end an inlet and at an opposite end an outlet. A motor stator is concentric with and located between the outer enclosure and the tubular housing. An impeller is concentric with and located within the tubular housing. The impeller is suspended in operation by a combination of passive magnetic forces between magnets within the impeller or magnetized regions of the impeller and the motor stator and hydrodynamic thrust forces generated as blood flows between the tubular housing and a plurality of hydrodynamic thrust bearing surfaces located on the impeller. A volute may be in fluid-tight connection with the outlet of the tubular housing for receiving blood in the axial direction and directing blood in a direction normal to the axial direction.

Abstract: An impeller for a blood pump such as a magnetically driven, rotary ventricular assist device for pumping blood of a patient, the impeller being substantially entirely made of an alloy which consists essentially of about 70-80 weight percent of platinum and 20-30 weight percent of cobalt.

Abstract: A blood pump comprises a pump housing; a plurality of rotors positioned in said housing, each rotor comprising an impeller having a hydrodynamic surface for pumping blood; and a motor including a plurality of magnetic poles carried by each impeller, having motor stators, each including electrically conductive coils located adjacent to or within the housing. At least one of the rotors is adopted to rotate clockwise, and at least one of rotors is adopted to rotate counterclockwise. By this means, stator or stationary blades between the rotors may not be needed.

Abstract: A blood pump comprises a pump housing; a rotor positioned in the housing and comprising an impeller having a hydrodynamic surface for pumping blood; and a motor including a plurality of magnets carried by the impeller, plus a rotor stator, including an electrically conductive coil located adjacent to or within the housing. The impeller comprises radially outwardly extending, bladelike projections that define generally longitudinally extending spaces between the projections. The shape of the projections and the spaces therebetween tend to drive blood in the spaces in an axial direction as the impeller is rotated. The spaces collectively have a total width along most of their lengths at the radial periphery of the rotor, that is substantially equal to or less than the collective width of the projections along most of their lengths at the radial periphery. Thus, the bladelike projections are thicker, achieving significant advantages.

Abstract: A method and apparatus includes a filter positioned with a sample flow path such that it restricts or prevents the passage of foreign materials, liquids or debris into a device such that, if not filtered, the elements harm the operational ability of the device.