Abstract: A blood circulation assist system includes a ventricular assist device (VAD) and a controller. The VAD is attachable to a heart of a patient to pump blood from a ventricle of the heart into a blood vessel of the patient. The VAD includes an impeller, a motor stator operable to rotate the impeller, and an accelerometer generating an accelerometer output indicative of accelerations of the VAD. The controller controls operation of the motor stator to control rotational speed of the impeller based on the accelerometer output.

Abstract: A blood circulation assist system includes a ventricular assist device (VAD) and a controller. The VAD is attachable to a heart of a patient to pump blood from a ventricle of the heart into a blood vessel of the patient. The VAD includes an impeller, a motor stator operable to rotate the impeller, and an accelerometer generating an accelerometer output indicative of accelerations of the VAD. The controller controls operation of the motor stator to control rotational speed of the impeller based on the accelerometer output.

Abstract: Systems, methods, and devices for securing a driveline to a portion of skin are disclosed herein. The driveline can connect an external controller to an implantable blood pump. The skin anchor can include a driveline capture portion. The driveline capture portion can receive the driveline and fix a position of the driveline with respect to the driveline capture portion. The driveline capture portion includes: a driveline receiver that can receive the driveline; and a driveline anchor that can engage the driveline to fix the position of the driveline with respect to the driveline receiver. The skin anchor can include a force distribution portion. The force distribution portion can engage a portion of skin and fix a position of the portion of skin with respect to the force distribution portion.

Abstract: Systems, methods, and devices for securing a driveline to a portion of skin are disclosed herein. The driveline can connect an external controller to an implantable blood pump. The skin anchor can include a driveline capture portion. The driveline capture portion can receive the driveline and fix a position of the driveline with respect to the driveline capture portion. The driveline capture portion includes: a driveline receiver that can receive the driveline; and a driveline anchor that can engage the driveline to fix the position of the driveline with respect to the driveline receiver. The skin anchor can include a force distribution portion. The force distribution portion can engage a portion of skin and fix a position of the portion of skin with respect to the force distribution portion.

Abstract: A blood circulation assist system includes a ventricular assist device (VAD) and a controller. The VAD is attachable to a heart of a patient to pump blood from a ventricle of the heart into a blood vessel of the patient. The VAD includes an impeller, a motor stator operable to rotate the impeller, and an accelerometer generating an accelerometer output indicative of accelerations of the VAD. The controller controls operation of the motor stator to control rotational speed of the impeller based on the accelerometer output.

Abstract: Systems, methods, and devices for securing a driveline to a portion of skin are disclosed herein. The driveline can connect an external controller to an implantable blood pump. The skin anchor can include a driveline capture portion. The driveline capture portion can receive the driveline and fix a position of the driveline with respect to the driveline capture portion. The driveline capture portion includes: a driveline receiver that can receive the driveline; and a driveline anchor that can engage the driveline to fix the position of the driveline with respect to the driveline receiver. The skin anchor can include a force distribution portion. The force distribution portion can engage a portion of skin and fix a position of the portion of skin with respect to the force distribution portion.

Abstract: A suture placement device includes a crook-shaped needle having a suture passage through which a suture thread passes; a suture opening in a tip portion of the needle, from which the suture thread exits the needle; and a bend in the needle including an open portion of the suture passage. The bend defines a suture capture zone in which the suture thread is separated from the needle. A shuttle includes a shuttle body and a shuttle hook. The shuttle hook is formed at a distal end of the shaft. The needle and the shuttle extend from the barrel, and the barrel includes a source of the suture thread and a rotating shaft or cable that causes the shuttle to traverse over the needle. A guide groove guides the shuttle over the needle. The shuttle hook engages the suture thread in the suture capture zone and draws the suture thread to the barrel.

Abstract: A suture placement device includes a crook-shaped needle having a suture passage through which a suture thread passes; a suture opening in a tip portion of the needle, from which the suture thread exits the needle; and a bend in the needle including an open portion of the suture passage. The bend defines a suture capture zone in which the suture thread is separated from the needle. A shuttle includes a shuttle body and a shuttle hook. The shuttle hook is formed at a distal end of the shaft. The needle and the shuttle extend from the barrel, and the barrel includes a source of the suture thread and a rotating shaft or cable that causes the shuttle to traverse over the needle. A guide groove guides the shuttle over the needle. The shuttle hook engages the suture thread in the suture capture zone and draws the suture thread to the barrel.

Abstract: An occluder apparatus for obstructing the flow of blood in a blood vessel has an elongated hollow tubular body having a leading end sized for reception in the blood vessel and includes portion of the body fabricated from a material soluble in blood, and a piercing device for inserting the body through the wall of the blood vessel to extend the leading end into the interior of the blood vessel. An inflatable diaphragm is carried by the body in a collapsed, deflated condition, and the apparatus includes a passage for conducting an inflating fluid from an external source, which is into fluid communication with the interior of the diaphragm, to effect expansion the diaphragm. Elongated openings in the body enable the diaphragm to be released in an inflated state from the body into flexible occluding engagement with the interior wall of the blood vessel about the full circumference of a transverse section thereof.

Abstract: An occluder apparatus for obstructing the flow of blood in a blood vessel has an elongated hollow tubular body having a leading end sized for reception in the blood vessel and includes portion of the body fabricated from a material soluble in blood, and a piercing device for inserting the body through the wall of the blood vessel to extend the leading end into the interior of the blood vessel. An inflatable diaphragm is carried by the body in a collapsed, deflated condition, and the apparatus includes a passage for conducting an inflating fluid from an external source, which is into fluid communication with the interior of the diaphragm, to effect expansion the diaphragm. Elongated openings in the body enable the diaphragm to be released in an inflated state from the body into flexible occluding engagement with the interior wall of the blood vessel about the full circumference of a transverse section thereof.

Abstract: An occluder apparatus for obstructing the flow of blood in a blood vessel has an elongated hollow tubular body having a leading end sized for reception in the blood vessel and includes portion of the body fabricated from a material soluble in blood, and a piercing device for inserting the body through the wall of the blood vessel to extend the leading end into the interior of the blood vessel. An inflatable diaphragm is carried by the body in a collapsed, deflated condition, and the apparatus includes a passage for conducting an inflating fluid from an external source, which is into fluid communication with the interior of the diaphragm, to effect expansion the diaphragm.

Abstract: An occluder apparatus for obstructing the flow of blood in a blood vessel has an elongated hollow tubular body having a leading end sized for reception in the blood vessel and includes portion of the body fabricated from a material soluble in blood, and a piercing device for inserting the body through the wall of the blood vessel to extend the leading end into the interior of the blood vessel. An inflatable diaphragm is carried by the body in a collapsed, deflated condition, and the apparatus includes a passage for conducting an inflating fluid from an external source, which is into fluid communication with the interior of the diaphragm, to effect expansion the diaphragm. Elongated openings in the body enable the diaphragm to be released in an inflated state from the body into flexible occluding engagement with the interior wall of the blood vessel about the full circumference of a transverse section thereof.

Abstract: An occluder apparatus for obstructing the flow of blood in a blood vessel has an elongated hollow tubular body having a leading end sized for reception in the blood vessel and includes portion of the body fabricated from a material soluble in blood, and a piercing device for inserting the body through the wall of the blood vessel to extend the leading end into the interior of the blood vessel. An inflatable diaphragm is carried by the body in a collapsed, deflated condition, and the apparatus includes a passage for conducting an inflating fluid from an external source, which is into fluid communication with the interior of the diaphragm, to effect expansion the diaphragm. Elongated openings in the body enable the diaphragm to be released in an inflated state from the body into flexible occluding engagement with the interior wall of the blood vessel about the full circumference of a transverse section thereof.