Abstract: A cardiac ventricular assist device or VAD includes a pumping unit with a variable-volume chamber capable of receiving a mass of blood, and a control unit to control the pumping unit to obtain contraction of the variable-volume chamber, with consequent expulsion of the blood collected in the chamber, and expansion of the variable-volume chamber consequent on the flow of blood into the chamber. A flow line is included, such as a transcutaneous line, for a gaseous flow caused by the contraction and expansion of the variable-volume chamber. A sensor sensitive to the gaseous flow in the flow line generates a flow-meter signal that is indicative of the expulsion and inflow of blood with regard to the variable-volume chamber.

Abstract: Described herein is a pulsator device that can be used for generating a pulsed flow starting from a substantially constant flow, for example in reactors for cell growth and other applications in which it is desired to have available pulsed irroration flows. The device comprises a deformable body that is able to define a duct for passage of a substantially constant flow of a fluid subjected to pumping. Associated to the deformable body is at least one actuation chamber that is selectively expandable between at least one contracted condition and at least one extended condition of pumping so as to produce a variation of the section for passage of said fluid through the duct. The variation of the section of passage through the duct is able to cause the generation of a pulsed flow of the fluid subjected to pumping.

Abstract: The device comprises a bag associated to which are actuator means which can be selectively activated so as to enable expansion of the bag, with consequent filling of the bag itself by a mass of blood which flows towards the bag, and to produce contraction of the bag with consequent expulsion from the bag itself of the mass of blood that has flowed into the bag. Associated to the bag is a containment casing to which a duct is connected for enabling inflow and outflow of aeriform with respect to the casing as a result of the movement of expansion and contraction of the bag. A pressure limiter is provided for determining selectively and maintaining in a precise way the value of pressure of said aeriform which determines outflow—and possibly inflow—of the aeriform with respect to the aforesaid casing.

Abstract: A device comprises a bag with associated actuator means which can be selectively activated to permit the expansion of the bag and its consequent filing with a body of blood which flows towards the bag, and to produce the contraction of the bag with the consequent expulsion from the bag of a body of blood which has flowed into the bag. Means are provided for selectively varying the resistance offered by the said bag to filing with the said body of blood.

Abstract: The device comprises a bag with associated actuator means which can be selectively activated

Abstract: A single cardiac ventricular assistance device intended to integrate the ctions of a ventricular assistance device (V.A.D.) proper and of an aortic balloon pump (IABP) includes a single energy source which causes the simultaneous rhythmic contraction of two chambers which are intended to be filled with blood. One of the contractible chambers has two one-way valves for the inlet and outlet of the blood respectively, while the other has a single inlet-outlet connector without valves for connection to the outlet of the first chamber downstream of its outlet-valve portion.