Patents by Inventor Christoph Nix

Christoph Nix has filed for patents to protect the following inventions. This listing includes patent applications that are pending as well as patents that have already been granted by the United States Patent and Trademark Office (USPTO).

  • Publication number: 20240123213
    Abstract: The invention relates to an intravascular blood pump. The blood pump comprises a pump section having a proximal portion with a blood flow inlet and a distal portion with a blood flow outlet and an impeller for causing blood to flow into the blood flow inlet and towards the blood flow outlet. The blood pump further comprises at least one filter connected to the proximal portion of the pump section and arranged with respect to the blood flow inlet so as to filter the blood before it enters the blood flow inlet. The filter may comprise an expandable mesh structure made of a shape-memory material.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 25, 2023
    Publication date: April 18, 2024
    Applicant: Abiomed Europe GmbH
    Inventors: Thorsten Siess, Walid Aboulhosn, Christoph Nix
  • Patent number: 11833278
    Abstract: The invention relates to an intravascular blood pump. The blood pump comprises a pump section having a proximal portion with a blood flow inlet and a distal portion with a blood flow outlet and an impeller for causing blood to flow into the blood flow inlet and towards the blood flow outlet. The blood pump further comprises at least one filter connected to the proximal portion of the pump section and arranged with respect to the blood flow inlet so as to filter the blood before it enters the blood flow inlet. The filter may comprise an expandable mesh structure made of a shape-memory material.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 7, 2020
    Date of Patent: December 5, 2023
    Assignee: Abiomed Europe Gmbh
    Inventors: Thorsten Siess, Walid Aboulhosn, Christoph Nix
  • Publication number: 20230381480
    Abstract: A sheath for producing a fully sealed access to the interior of a vessel of an animal or human body comprises a base sheath having a tubular body defining a pass-through channel. The base sheath is adapted to be inserted into the vessel through a vessel aperture. The sheath further comprises an expansion device which is adapted to cooperate with the base sheath such that the outer diameter of the sheath increases in the region of the vessel aperture with the sheath in a stationary position in the vessel and upon actuation of the expansion device.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 3, 2023
    Publication date: November 30, 2023
    Applicant: Abiomed Europe GmbH
    Inventors: Thorsten Siess, Christoph Nix, Frank Kirchhoff, Ger O'Carrol
  • Publication number: 20230330311
    Abstract: Device for determination of a CO2 partial pressure value on a blood side of an oxygenator having an oxygenator with a blood side, a gas side and a semipermeable membrane, wherein the membrane separates the blood side from the gas side, the gas side has an inlet and an outlet and, during operation of the oxygenator, a gas flow flows into the inlet to the outlet at a flow rate. The device also has a first sensor configured to measure CO2 partial pressure values of the gas side and a control unit configured to process the measured CO2 partial pressure values of the gas side and to determine a CO2 partial pressure value on the blood side based on the measured CO2 partial pressure values of the gas side. The control unit determines the CO2 partial pressure value on the blood side during operation of the oxygenator.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 26, 2021
    Publication date: October 19, 2023
    Applicant: Abiomed Europe GmbH
    Inventors: Christoph Nix, Verena Zscherlich
  • Patent number: 11730939
    Abstract: A sheath for producing a fully sealed access to the interior of a vessel of an animal or human body comprises a base sheath having a tubular body defining a pass-through channel. The base sheath is adapted to be inserted into the vessel through a vessel aperture. The sheath further comprises an expansion device which is adapted to cooperate with the base sheath such that the outer diameter of the sheath increases in the region of the vessel aperture with the sheath in a stationary position in the vessel and upon actuation of the expansion device.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 6, 2015
    Date of Patent: August 22, 2023
    Assignee: ABIOMED EUROPE GMBH
    Inventors: Thorsten Siess, Christoph Nix, Frank Kirchhoff, Ger O'Carrol
  • Patent number: 11724091
    Abstract: A blood pump system including a blood pump, an intravascular flow cannula, and a pressure sensor. The intravascular flow cannula is in flow communication with the blood pump and has a distal end portion distally from the blood pump and a proximal end portion closer to the blood pump. The intravascular flow cannula has at least one blood flow through opening at its distal end portion for blood to enter or exit the flow cannula. The blood flow through opening has a borderline surrounding the through opening. The pressure sensor is configured radially within the flow cannula and borders a proximal portion of the borderline.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 10, 2017
    Date of Patent: August 15, 2023
    Assignee: ABIOMED EUROPE GMBH
    Inventors: Thorsten Siess, Frank Kirchhoff, Christoph Nix
  • Publication number: 20230137664
    Abstract: An intravascular blood pump (1) comprises a ring seal (10) that is configured to assume a collapsed configuration and an expanded configuration and configured to contact and seal against an inner wall of the patient’s blood vessel when inserted therein in the expanded configuration. A support member (12; 13) is disposed inside the ring seal (10) in order to support the ring seal (10) from the inside, wherein the support member (12; 13) is configured to collapse at least partially when a predetermined pressure difference between a proximal area and a distal area of the blood vessel acting on the ring seal (10) is exceeded.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 2, 2022
    Publication date: May 4, 2023
    Applicant: Abiomed Europe GMBH
    Inventors: Thorsten Siess, Christoph Nix, Walid Aboulhosn
  • Publication number: 20230083542
    Abstract: A controller for a blood pump, in particular a catheter-based intravascular blood pump, configured to utilize detected or determined aortic pressures and left ventricular pressures in order to calculate a coupling factor, which is then used to determine how to adjust the rotational speed of the blood pump, such as when the blood pump is used in conjunction with ECMO devices.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 7, 2022
    Publication date: March 16, 2023
    Applicant: Abiomed Europe GmbH
    Inventors: Christoph Nix, Stefan Boensch, Katrin Lunze
  • Publication number: 20230048736
    Abstract: A control device (100) for controlling the rotational speed (nVAD(t)) of a non-pulsatile ventricular assist device, VAD, (50) uses an event-based within-a-beat control strategy, wherein the control device is configured to alter the rotational speed of the VAD within the cardiac cycle of the assisted heart and to synchronize the alteration of the rotational speed with the heartbeat by at least one sequence of trigger signals (?(t)) that is related to at least one predetermined characteristic event in the cardiac cycle. Further, a VAD (50) for assistance of a heart comprises the control device (100) for controlling the VAD, wherein the VAD is preferably a non-pulsatile rotational, for example catheter-based, blood pump.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 28, 2022
    Publication date: February 16, 2023
    Inventors: Christoph Nix, Katrin Lunze, Thorsten Siess, Walid Aboulhosn
  • Publication number: 20220406449
    Abstract: The invention concerns a control device for controlling a blood flow of an intravascular blood pump for percutaneous insertion into a patient's blood vessel, the blood pump comprising a pump unit with a drive unit for driving the pump unit and configured to convey blood from a blood flow inlet towards a blood flow outlet, wherein the control device is configured to operate the blood pump in a selectable zero-flow control mode, wherein a blood flow command signal is selected, and the control device comprises a first controller and a second controller, wherein the first controller is configured to control the blood flow by adjusting a speed command signal for the drive unit, and the second controller is configured to control a drive speed of the drive unit.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 6, 2022
    Publication date: December 22, 2022
    Applicant: Abiomed Europe GmbH
    Inventors: Christoph Nix, Katrin Lunze, Thorsten Siess, Walid Aboulhosn
  • Patent number: 11517726
    Abstract: An intravascular blood pump (1) comprises a ring seal (10) that is configured to assume a collapsed configuration and an expanded configuration and configured to contact and seal against an inner wall of the patient's blood vessel when inserted therein in the expanded configuration. A support member (12; 13) is disposed inside the ring seal (10) in order to support the ring seal (10) from the inside, wherein the support member (12; 13) is configured to collapse at least partially when a predetermined pressure difference between a proximal area and a distal area of the blood vessel acting on the ring seal (10) is exceeded.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 3, 2018
    Date of Patent: December 6, 2022
    Assignee: Abiomed Europe GMBH
    Inventors: Thorsten Siess, Christoph Nix, Walid Aboulhosn
  • Patent number: 11413444
    Abstract: A control device (100) for controlling the rotational speed (nVAD(t)) of a non-pulsatile ventricular assist device, VAD, (50) uses an event-based within-a-beat control strategy, wherein the control device is configured to alter the rotational speed of the VAD within the cardiac cycle of the assisted heart and to synchronize the alteration of the rotational speed with the heartbeat by at least one sequence of trigger signals (?(t)) that is related to at least one predetermined characteristic event in the cardiac cycle. Further, a VAD (50) for assistance of a heart comprises the control device (100) for controlling the VAD, wherein the VAD is preferably a non-pulsatile rotational, for example catheter-based, blood pump.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 18, 2017
    Date of Patent: August 16, 2022
    Assignee: Abiomed Europe GmbH
    Inventors: Christoph Nix, Katrin Lunze, Thorsten Siess, Walid Aboulhosn
  • Publication number: 20220241578
    Abstract: A control device for a ventricular assist device (VAD) with settable speed levels. The control device includes an input configured to receive at least one measuring signal related to a physiological condition of the circulatory system of a patient receiving heart assistance by the VAD, where the control device is configured to derive an actual value of at least one characteristic parameter of the heart from one or more of the at least one measuring signal and to provide a refined actual value of the at least one characteristic parameter in which effects of physiologically caused fluctuations are eliminated or reduced. The control device further includes an output configured to output an updated setting value for the speed level, where the control device is configured to produce the updated setting value based on the refined actual value and a predeterminable set-point value.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 18, 2022
    Publication date: August 4, 2022
    Applicant: Abiomed Europe GmbH
    Inventors: Thorsten Siess, Walid Aboulhosn, Christoph Nix, Katrin Lunze
  • Patent number: 11351358
    Abstract: The invention concerns a control device for controlling a blood flow of an intravascular blood pump for percutaneous insertion into a patient's blood vessel, the blood pump comprising a pump unit with a drive unit for driving the pump unit and configured to convey blood from a blood flow inlet towards a blood flow outlet, wherein the control device is configured to operate the blood pump in a selectable zero-flow control mode, wherein a blood flow command signal is selected, and the control device comprises a first controller and a second controller, wherein the first controller is configured to control the blood flow by adjusting a speed command signal for the drive unit, and the second controller is configured to control a drive speed of the drive unit.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 17, 2018
    Date of Patent: June 7, 2022
    Assignee: Abiomed Europe GMBH
    Inventors: Christoph Nix, Katrin Lunze, Thorsten Siess, Walid Aboulhosn
  • Publication number: 20220105339
    Abstract: Electrode assembly patches configured for conductance and admittance measurements, and methods of manufacturing same. The present technology provides designs and manufacturing methods that may enable a conductance or admittance electrode assembly patches to be flexible, low-profile, and easily applied to an intravascular blood pump or other device, such that there may be little or no change to the device's overall diameter, profile, and functionality.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 7, 2021
    Publication date: April 7, 2022
    Applicant: Abiomed Europe GmbH
    Inventors: Christoph Nix, Mithun Rajaram, Verena Zscherlich
  • Patent number: 11285311
    Abstract: A control device for a ventricular assist device (VAD) with settable speed levels. The control device includes an input configured to receive at least one measuring signal related to a physiological condition of the circulatory system of a patient receiving heart assistance by the VAD, where the control device is configured to derive an actual value of at least one characteristic parameter of the heart from one or more of the at least one measuring signal and to provide a refined actual value of the at least one characteristic parameter in which effects of physiologically caused fluctuations are eliminated or reduced. The control device further includes an output configured to output an updated setting value for the speed level, where the control device is configured to produce the updated setting value based on the refined actual value and a predeterminable set-point value.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 16, 2017
    Date of Patent: March 29, 2022
    Assignee: ABIOMED EUROPE GMBH
    Inventors: Thorsten Siess, Walid Aboulhosn, Christoph Nix, Katrin Lunze
  • Publication number: 20210299433
    Abstract: A blood pump comprises a pump section and a flow cannula. A proximal end portion of the flow cannula is connected to the pump section such that blood can enter the blood flow inlet, and a distal end portion of the flow cannula includes at least one blood flow-through opening for blood to enter the flow cannula. The distal end portion comprises an enlarged diameter portion, with at least a major portion of the blood flow-through opening being disposed in the enlarged diameter portion. The blood pump further comprises a sleeve overlapping the enlarged diameter portion. The sleeve has a structure that prevents its distal end from bending radially inwards into the blood flow-through openings.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 14, 2021
    Publication date: September 30, 2021
    Applicant: Abiomed Europe GmbH
    Inventors: Thorsten Siess, Walid Aboulhosn, Frank Kirchhoff, Christoph Nix, Gerd Bruno Spanier
  • Publication number: 20210170158
    Abstract: The invention relates to an intravascular blood pump. The blood pump comprises a pump section having a proximal portion with a blood flow inlet and a distal portion with a blood flow outlet and an impeller for causing blood to flow into the blood flow inlet and towards the blood flow outlet. The blood pump further comprises at least one filter connected to the proximal portion of the pump section and arranged with respect to the blood flow inlet so as to filter the blood before it enters the blood flow inlet. The filter may comprise an expandable mesh structure made of a shape-memory material.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 7, 2020
    Publication date: June 10, 2021
    Applicant: Abiomed Europe Gmbh
    Inventors: Thorsten Siess, Walid Aboulhosn, Christoph Nix
  • Patent number: 11020584
    Abstract: The invention relates to an intravascular blood pump. The blood pump comprises a pump section and a flow cannula. A proximal end portion of the flow cannula is connected to the pump section such that blood can enter the blood flow inlet, and a distal end portion of the flow cannula includes at least one blood flow-through opening for blood to enter the flow cannula. The distal end portion comprises an enlarged diameter portion, with at least a major portion of the blood flow-through opening being disposed in the enlarged diameter portion. The blood pump further comprises a sleeve overlapping the enlarged diameter portion. The sleeve has a structure that prevents its distal end from bending radially inwards into the blood flow-through openings.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 10, 2017
    Date of Patent: June 1, 2021
    Assignee: ABIOMED EUROPE GMBH
    Inventors: Thorsten Siess, Walid Aboulhosn, Frank Kirchhoff, Christoph Nix, Gerd Spanier
  • Publication number: 20210146109
    Abstract: A sheath for producing a fully sealed access to the interior of a vessel of an animal or human body comprises a base sheath having a tubular body defining a pass-through channel. The base sheath is adapted to be inserted into the vessel through a vessel aperture. A wall of the tubular body of the base sheath has a through channel. This channel extends in the wall from the distal end towards the proximal end. The channel can be present separately from the pass-through channel of the base sheath or can form a sideways extension of the pass-through channel, at least at the distal end. Such through channel is adapted to conduct blood from the vessel to the proximal end of the sheath when the sheath has been inserted into a vessel.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 1, 2020
    Publication date: May 20, 2021
    Inventors: Thorsten Siess, Christoph Nix, Frank Kirchhoff, Patrick Hunziker