Patents by Inventor Christopher J. Cotter

Christopher J. Cotter 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).

  • Patent number: 11872384
    Abstract: Methods of operating a blood pump having a magnetically levitated impeller. A method of operating a blood pump includes controlling supply of drive currents to drive coils of the blood pump to magnetically rotate an impeller around an impeller axis of rotation within a blood flow channel of a blood pump. Supply of a bearing current to a levitation coil of the blood pump is controlled to magnetically levitate the impeller in a direction transverse to the impeller axis of rotation so as to minimize power consumption of the blood pump during operation of the blood pump.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 3, 2021
    Date of Patent: January 16, 2024
    Assignee: TC1 LLC
    Inventor: Christopher J. Cotter
  • Publication number: 20210290936
    Abstract: Methods of operating a blood pump having a magnetically levitated impeller. A method of operating a blood pump includes controlling supply of drive currents to drive coils of the blood pump to magnetically rotate an impeller around an impeller axis of rotation within a blood flow channel of a blood pump. Supply of a bearing current to a levitation coil of the blood pump is controlled to magnetically levitate the impeller in a direction transverse to the impeller axis of rotation so as to minimize power consumption of the blood pump during operation of the blood pump.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 3, 2021
    Publication date: September 23, 2021
    Applicant: TC1 LLC
    Inventor: Christopher J. Cotter
  • Patent number: 11040188
    Abstract: Methods and apparatus for estimating flow rate in a blood circulation assist system employing impeller eccentricity. A method includes magnetically rotating an impeller within a blood flow channel of a blood pump. The impeller is levitated within the blood flow channel transverse to the impeller axis of rotation. A rotational speed for the impeller is determined. At least one impeller transverse position parameter is determined. The at least one impeller transverse position parameter is based on at least one of (1) an amount of a bearing current that is used to levitate the impeller transverse to the impeller axis of rotation, and (2) a position of the impeller within the blood flow channel transverse to the impeller axis of rotation. A flow rate of blood pumped by the blood pump is estimated based on the impeller rotational speed and the at least one impeller transverse position parameter.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 12, 2019
    Date of Patent: June 22, 2021
    Assignee: TC1 LLC
    Inventor: Christopher J. Cotter
  • Publication number: 20190231954
    Abstract: Methods and apparatus for estimating flow rate in a blood circulation assist system employing impeller eccentricity. A method includes magnetically rotating an impeller within a blood flow channel of a blood pump. The impeller is levitated within the blood flow channel transverse to the impeller axis of rotation. A rotational speed for the impeller is determined. At least one impeller transverse position parameter is determined. The at least one impeller transverse position parameter is based on at least one of (1) an amount of a bearing current that is used to levitate the impeller transverse to the impeller axis of rotation, and (2) a position of the impeller within the blood flow channel transverse to the impeller axis of rotation. A flow rate of blood pumped by the blood pump is estimated based on the impeller rotational speed and the at least one impeller transverse position parameter.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 12, 2019
    Publication date: August 1, 2019
    Applicant: TC1 LLC
    Inventor: Christopher J. Cotter
  • Patent number: 10300184
    Abstract: Methods and apparatus for estimating flow rate in a blood circulation assist system employing impeller eccentricity. A method includes magnetically rotating an impeller within a blood flow channel of a blood pump. The impeller is levitated within the blood flow channel transverse to the impeller axis of rotation. A rotational speed for the impeller is determined. At least one impeller transverse position parameter is determined. The at least one impeller transverse position parameter is based on at least one of (1) an amount of a bearing current that is used to levitate the impeller transverse to the impeller axis of rotation, and (2) a position of the impeller within the blood flow channel transverse to the impeller axis of rotation. A flow rate of blood pumped by the blood pump is estimated based on the impeller rotational speed and the at least one impeller transverse position parameter.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 17, 2018
    Date of Patent: May 28, 2019
    Assignee: TC1 LLC
    Inventor: Christopher J. Cotter
  • Publication number: 20180140760
    Abstract: Methods and apparatus for estimating flow rate in a blood circulation assist system employing impeller eccentricity. A method includes magnetically rotating an impeller within a blood flow channel of a blood pump. The impeller is levitated within the blood flow channel transverse to the impeller axis of rotation. A rotational speed for the impeller is determined. At least one impeller transverse position parameter is determined. The at least one impeller transverse position parameter is based on at least one of (1) an amount of a bearing current that is used to levitate the impeller transverse to the impeller axis of rotation, and (2) a position of the impeller within the blood flow channel transverse to the impeller axis of rotation. A flow rate of blood pumped by the blood pump is estimated based on the impeller rotational speed and the at least one impeller transverse position parameter.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 17, 2018
    Publication date: May 24, 2018
    Inventor: Christopher J. Cotter
  • Patent number: 9901666
    Abstract: Methods and apparatus for estimating flow rate in a blood circulation assist system employing impeller eccentricity. A method includes magnetically rotating an impeller within a blood flow channel of a blood pump. The impeller is levitated within the blood flow channel transverse to the impeller axis of rotation. A rotational speed for the impeller is determined. At least one impeller transverse position parameter is determined. The at least one impeller transverse position parameter is based on at least one of (1) an amount of a bearing current that is used to levitate the impeller transverse to the impeller axis of rotation, and (2) a position of the impeller within the blood flow channel transverse to the impeller axis of rotation. A flow rate of blood pumped by the blood pump is estimated based on the impeller rotational speed and the at least one impeller transverse position parameter.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 19, 2016
    Date of Patent: February 27, 2018
    Assignee: TC1 LLC
    Inventor: Christopher J. Cotter
  • Publication number: 20170021071
    Abstract: Methods for estimating flow rate in a blood circulation assist system employ impeller eccentricity. A method includes magnetically rotating an impeller within a blood flow channel of a blood pump. The impeller is levitated within the blood flow channel transverse to the impeller axis of rotation. A rotational speed for the impeller is determined. At least one impeller transverse position parameter is determined. The at least one impeller transverse position parameter is based on at least one of (1) an amount of a bearing current that is used to levitate the impeller transverse to the impeller axis of rotation, and (2) a position of the impeller within the blood flow channel transverse to the impeller axis of rotation. A flow rate of blood pumped by the blood pump is estimated based on the impeller rotational speed and the at least one impeller transverse position parameter.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 19, 2016
    Publication date: January 26, 2017
    Inventor: Christopher J. Cotter
  • Patent number: 9452249
    Abstract: A modular driveline includes a modular portion including a cable and a connector, the cable having terminations, and a percutaneous portion including a cable and a connector, the cable having terminations. The percutaneous portion connector couples to the modular portion connector, and cable terminations at the connectors are captured in the connectors by potting. The cable can include an inner member, conductors disposed about the inner member, a covering about the conductors, a layer extruded onto the covering, an armor braid over the extruded layer, and an outer jacket extruded over the armor braid.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 9, 2014
    Date of Patent: September 27, 2016
    Assignee: THORATEC CORPORATION
    Inventors: Keith H. Kearsley, Christopher J. Cotter, Justin A. Callaway, Maria D. Kulinski, John C. Layton, Ramesh B. Jayaraman
  • Publication number: 20150031937
    Abstract: A modular driveline includes a modular portion including a cable and a connector, the cable having terminations, and a percutaneous portion including a cable and a connector, the cable having terminations. The percutaneous portion connector couples to the modular portion connector, and cable terminations at the connectors are captured in the connectors by potting. The cable can include an inner member, conductors disposed about the inner member, a covering about the conductors, a layer extruded onto the covering, an armor braid over the extruded layer, and an outer jacket extruded over the armor braid.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 9, 2014
    Publication date: January 29, 2015
    Inventors: Keith H. Kearsley, Christopher J. Cotter, Justin A. Callaway, Maria D. Kulinski, John C. Layton, Ramesh B. Jayaraman
  • Patent number: 7824358
    Abstract: A heart assist device connection system comprises an inflow connector in fluid-tight communication with an inflow section of a heart assist device. The connector is configured to be releasably connected to an inlet extension inserted into a patient's ventricle. The connector has one or more recesses configured to match a protrusion on the inlet extension. The system also comprises an outflow connector in fluid communication with an outflow section of the heart assist device. The outflow connector is configured to be releasably connected to a conduit attached-to the patient's vasculature.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 22, 2004
    Date of Patent: November 2, 2010
    Assignee: Thoratec Corporation
    Inventors: Christopher J. Cotter, Olivier C. Bataille