Abstract: A ventricular assist device includes a pump such as an axial flow pump, an outflow cannula connected to the outlet of the pump, and an anchor element. The anchor element is physically connected to the pump, as by an elongated element. The pump is implanted within the left ventricle with the outflow cannula projecting through the aortic valve but desirably terminating short of the aortic arch. The anchor element is fixed to the wall of the heart near the apex of the heart so that the anchor element holds the pump and outflow cannula in position.

Abstract: A housing having an interior and an exterior. A pump rotor is configured to be received within the interior of the housing, the pump rotor includes a magnet. A stator having a delivery configuration and an operative configuration is included, the stator in the delivery configuration has a delivery diameter, the stator in the operative configuration being configured to be disposed around the exterior of the housing and to form an assembled pump having a diameter greater than the delivery diameter.

Abstract: An implantable blood pump including an inflow cannula, the inflow cannula having a malleable tube including an inflow portion, a steering assembly coupled to the inflow portion of the tube, an actuator coupled to the steering assembly for applying a force to the tube, and a cannula tip extending from the inflow portion of the tube and defining an aperture in fluid communication with the tube.

Abstract: In one embodiment of the present invention, an implantable blood pump includes a housing defining a flow path, a rotor positioned within the flow path, and a motor including a stator, positioned outside of said housing, the stator including a length of silver wire, wherein the silver wire is not positioned within a hermetically sealed compartment once the blood pump is ready for implantation into a patient in need thereof. The present invention may also include a method of implanting the implantable blood pump including the step of implanting the blood pump within the patient and within or adjacent to the vasculature.

Abstract: One aspect of an intravascular ventricular assist device is an implantable blood pump where the pump includes a housing defining a bore having an axis, one or more rotors disposed within the bore, each rotor including a plurality of magnetic poles, and one or more stators surrounding the bore for providing a magnetic field within the bore to induce rotation of each of the one or more rotors. Another aspect of the invention includes methods of providing cardiac assistance to a mammalian subject as, for example, a human. Further aspects of the invention include rotor bodies having helical channels formed longitudinally along the length of the body of the rotor where each helical channel is formed between peripheral support surface areas facing radially outwardly and extending generally in circumferential directions around the rotational axis of the rotor.

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: 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: In one embodiment of the present invention, an implantable blood pump includes a housing defining a flow path, a rotor positioned within the flow path, and a motor including a stator, positioned outside of said housing, the stator including a length of silver wire, wherein the silver wire is not positioned within a hermetically sealed compartment once the blood pump is ready for implantation into a patient in need thereof. The present invention may also include a method of implanting the implantable blood pump including the step of implanting the blood pump within the patient and within or adjacent to the vasculature.

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: A blood pump including a housing defining a fluid flow path, an upstream end, a downstream end, and an outlet at the downstream end. A rotor is disposed within the housing and within the fluid flow path, the rotor being rotatable independent of the housing in a first direction and configured to pump blood downstream toward the outlet. The housing defines an inflow cannula at the upstream end, the inflow cannula defining a proximal end proximate the rotor and an opposite distal end. The inflow cannula defines a major longitudinal axis and minor longitudinal axis, the distal end of inflow cannula defines a plurality of slots radially disposed about the distal end, the plurality of slots being at least one from the group consisting of sloped in the first direction with respect to the major longitudinal axis and angled in the first direction with respect to the minor longitudinal axis.

Abstract: An apparatus for protecting heart tissue from an implanted inlet element of a blood pump. The apparatus includes a flange member having a first radially constricted configuration and a second radially expanded configuration, the flange member being biased in its second radially expanded configuration. The flange member defines an opening there through sized to receiving the inlet element of the blood pump. A retaining element extending from the flange member is included, the retaining element being flexible and sized to be disposed about at least a portion of the inlet element.

Abstract: A blood pump including a housing defining a proximal end, a distal end, and a first axis extending from the proximal end to the distal end. A ferromagnetic rotor is disposed within the housing and configured pump blood in a direction along the first axis. A stator is disposed within housing and around the ferromagnetic rotor, the stator is configured to apply a magnetic force causing rotation of the ferromagnetic rotor, the stator being eccentric to the rotor.

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 includes a housing having an inlet and an outlet opposite therefrom. An impeller located within the housing is suspended during operation by magnetic forces between magnets or magnetized regions of the impeller and a motor stator surrounding the housing, and hydrodynamic thrust forces generated by a flow of blood between the 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 housing for receiving blood in the axial direction and directing blood in a direction normal to the axial direction. The volute has a flow-improving member extending axially from the volute and into the housing in a coaxial direction of the housing.

Abstract: A mechanical circulatory support device. The mechanical circulatory support device includes an inner casing defining a fluid flow path, the fluid flow path defines a longitudinal axis. A rotor is mounted within the fluid flow path and configured to rotate about the longitudinal axis. A housing is included, the inner casing and the rotor being substantially disposed within the housing. The housing having a cross-sectional shape in a plane transverse to the longitudinal axis which decreases in thickness extending from a medial position to opposite lateral positions.

Abstract: A ventricular assist device includes a pump such as an axial flow pump, an outflow cannula connected to the outlet of the pump, and an anchor element. The anchor element is physically connected to the pump, as by an elongated element. The pump is implanted within the left ventricle with the outflow cannula projecting through the aortic valve but desirably terminating short of the aortic arch. The anchor element is fixed to the wall of the heart near the apex of the heart so that the anchor element holds the pump and outflow cannula in position.

Abstract: One aspect of an intravascular ventricular assist device is an implantable blood pump where the pump includes a housing defining a bore having an axis, one or more rotors disposed within the bore, each rotor including a plurality of magnetic poles, and one or more stators surrounding the bore for providing a magnetic field within the bore to induce rotation of each of the one or more rotors. Another aspect of the invention includes methods of providing cardiac assistance to a mammalian subject as, for example, a human. Further aspects of the invention include rotor bodies having helical channels formed longitudinally along the length of the body of the rotor where each helical channel is formed between peripheral support surface areas facing radially outwardly and extending generally in circumferential directions around the rotational axis of the rotor.

Abstract: The present invention, in one embodiment, is a blood pump for intraventricular placement inside a heart of a mammalian subject including a rigid elongate member having a length between proximal and distal ends and a bore extending along the length, an anchor element connected towards the proximal end of the rigid elongate member and mounted to the subject's heart, a pump having an inlet and an outlet, a rotor and at least one electric drive coil for magnetically driving the rotor, the pump connected at or adjacent to the distal end of the rigid elongate member remote from the anchor element and wiring extending through the bore to the pump, wherein the proximal end of the rigid elongate member extends past the anchor element to a position outside of the subject's heart. Additional embodiments of a blood pump, and various methods of intraventricular placement inside a heart of a mammalian subject are also considered.

Abstract: One aspect of an intravascular ventricular assist device is an implantable blood pump where the pump includes a housing defining a bore having an axis, one or more rotors disposed within the bore, each rotor including a plurality of magnetic poles, and one or more stators surrounding the bore for providing a magnetic field within the bore to induce rotation of each of the one or more rotors. Another aspect of the invention includes methods of providing cardiac assistance to a mammalian subject as, for example, a human. Further aspects of the invention include rotor bodies having helical channels formed longitudinally along the length of the body of the rotor where each helical channel is formed between peripheral support surface areas facing radially outwardly and extending generally in circumferential directions around the rotational axis of the rotor.