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 elongate 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 magnetic impeller for a blood pump such as a magnetically driven, rotary ventricular assist device for pumping blood of a patient, the impeller comprising a magnetic alloy including platinum, cobalt, and boron.

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: 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 method of estimating the blood flow rate of a heart ventricle assist device which is positioned externally of, or implanted in, a patient. The assist device comprises a blood pump having a rapidly rotating, electrically powered impeller, and comprises briefly interrupting power to the impeller to cause its rotation to slow. From this, blood viscosity can be estimated, which viscosity is used to obtain real time, estimated blood flow rates and pressure heads. Apparatus for accomplishing this is disclosed.

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 of estimating the blood flow rate of a heart ventricle assist device which is positioned externally of, or implanted in, a patient. The assist device comprises a blood pump having a rapidly rotating, electrically powered impeller, and comprises briefly interrupting power to the impeller to cause its rotation to slow. From this, blood viscosity can be estimated, which viscosity is used to obtain real time, estimated blood flow rates and pressure heads.

Abstract: A compound spin vane (CSV) for use in an air passage of a fossil fuel-fired burner. In one embodiment, the CSV is a multi-piece construction of platelike outer and inner vane elements connected to an intermediate platelike rail element. In another embodiment, the CSV includes at least two and possibly three vane portions, rigidly interconnected in spaced lateral relationship with respect to each other. If desired, the vane portions may be simple, curved planar surfaces, and may be arranged with trailing edges arranged at angles with respect to each other. The invention may be employed as a replacement for flat spin vanes found in secondary air passages of known single and dual register burners. When used in such manner in a single register burner, the invention changes secondary air flow characteristics so as to mimic those commonly found in a dual register burner.

Abstract: A compound spin vane (CSV) for use in an air passage of a fossil fuel-fired burner. In one embodiment, the CSV is a multi-piece construction of platelike outer and inner vane elements connected to an intermediate platelike rail element. In another embodiment, the CSV includes at least two and possibly three vane portions, rigidly interconnected in spaced lateral relationship with respect to each other. If desired, the vane portions may be simple, curved planar surfaces, and may be arranged with trailing edges arranged at angles with respect to each other. The invention may be employed as a replacement for flat spin vanes found in secondary air passages of known single and dual register burners. When used in such manner in a single register burner, the invention changes secondary air flow characteristics so as to mimic those commonly found in a dual register burner.

Abstract: A compound spin vane (CSV) for use in an air passage of a fossil fuel-fired burner. In one embodiment, the CSV is a multi-piece construction of platelike outer and inner vane elements connected to an intermediate platelike rail element. In another embodiment, the CSV includes at least two and possibly three vane portions, rigidly interconnected in spaced lateral relationship with respect to each other. If desired, the vane portions may be simple, curved planar surfaces, and may be arranged with trailing edges arranged at angles with respect to each other. The invention may be employed as a replacement for flat spin vanes found in secondary air passages of known single and dual register burners. When used in such manner in a single register burner, the invention changes secondary air flow characteristics so as to mimic those commonly found in a dual register burner.

Abstract: A deflector means having a trapezoidal cross section for reducing erosion of heat exchanger tubes caused by a flowing, particle-laden combustion gas produced in a fossil fuel-fired boiler, and a draft loss reduction means for use in connection with the deflector means. The deflector means preferably is attached to heat exchange tubes in a first row of a tube bank so as to precondition the combustion gas flow. The draft loss reduction means preferably is affixed to heat exchange tubes in a second row of a tube bank in order to reduce draft loss typically caused when combustion gas flows around heat exchange tubes.

Abstract: An arrangement of air foils in a duct bend for channeling an air flow through the duct in a manner which enhances the accuracy of pressure measurements taken at one or more points in the channels formed in the duct between the air foils.

Abstract: A pulverized fuel burner having lower emissions and lower unburned fuel losses by outwardly diverting and swirling pulverized fuel at the outlet of a fuel nozzle carrying the pulverized fuel. Diverting cone is positioned at the outlet of the fuel nozzle and include swirling plates connected there between for outwardly diverting some of the pulverized fuel and swirling a remainder of the pulverized fuel. Together these effects reduce the axial momentum of the fuel, shortening the flame and improving its emission and unburned fuel loss characteristics.

Abstract: A multi-directional after-air port for controlling air flow to a furnace in a staged combustion system has multiple sets of louvers or dampers oriented perpendicular to each other for improved control over combustion air-flow direction.