Abstract: A method of operating a counterpulsation device (CPD) in a human or animal subject is disclosed, the method including: receiving a heart beat signal indicative of the heart beat of the subject; providing counterpulsation therapy by controlling the pressure supplied to a CPD drive line in pneumatic communication with the CPD to cause the CPD to alternately fill with blood and eject blood with a timing that is determined at least in part based on the heart beat signal; while providing counterpulsation therapy, receiving a CPD drive line pressure signal indicative of the pressure in the CPD drive line; and adjusting the pressure supplied to the drive line based at least in part on the drive line pressure signal.

Abstract: A floating mirror includes a buoyant body extending between a first end and a second end, and a reflective material disposed on opposite surfaces of the buoyant body.

Abstract: A method of operating a counterpulsation device (CPD) in a human or animal subject is disclosed, the method including: receiving a heart beat signal indicative of the heart beat of the subject; providing counterpulsation therapy by controlling the pressure supplied to a CPD drive line in pneumatic communication with the CPD to cause the CPD to alternately fill with blood and eject blood with a timing that is determined at least in part based on the heart beat signal; while providing counterpulsation therapy, receiving a CPD drive line pressure signal indicative of the pressure in the CPD drive line; and adjusting the pressure supplied to the drive line based at least in part on the drive line pressure signal.

Abstract: A floating mirror includes a buoyant body extending between a first end and a second end, and a reflective material disposed on opposite surfaces of the buoyant body.

Abstract: The present disclosure provides medical devices, systems and methods and in particular to devices and methods useful for anchoring graft materials to bodily structures.

Abstract: A method of operating a counterpulsation device (CPD) in a human or animal subject is disclosed, the method including: receiving a heart beat signal indicative of the heart beat of the subject; providing counterpulsation therapy by controlling the pressure supplied to a CPD drive line in pneumatic communication with the CPD to cause the CPD to alternately fill with blood and eject blood with a timing that is determined at least in part based on the heart beat signal; while providing counterpulsation therapy, receiving a CPD drive line pressure signal indicative of the pressure in the CPD drive line; and adjusting the pressure supplied to the drive line based at least in part on the drive line pressure signal.

Abstract: The present disclosure provides medical devices, systems and methods and in particular to devices and methods useful for anchoring graft materials to bodily structures.

Abstract: A method of operating a counterpulsation device (CPD) in a human or animal subject is disclosed, the method including: receiving a heart beat signal indicative of the heart beat of the subject; providing counterpulsation therapy by controlling the pressure supplied to a CPD drive line in pneumatic communication with the CPD to cause the CPD to alternately fill with blood and eject blood with a timing that is determined at least in part based on the heart beat signal; while providing counterpulsation therapy, receiving a CPD drive line pressure signal indicative of the pressure in the CPD drive line; and adjusting the pressure supplied to the drive line based at least in part on the drive line pressure signal.

Abstract: A blood flow conduit includes a first conduit portion defining a first portion of a lumen; and a second conduit portion defining a second portion of a lumen. At least one of the first or second conduit portions may include a tip portion and the other of the first or second conduit portions may include an enlarged area.

Abstract: A method of operating a counterpulsation device (CPD) in a human or animal subject is disclosed, the method including: receiving a heart beat signal indicative of the heart beat of the subject; providing counterpulsation therapy by controlling the pressure supplied to a CPD drive line in pneumatic communication with the CPD to cause the CPD to alternately fill with blood and eject blood with a timing that is determined at least in part based on the heart beat signal; while providing counterpulsation therapy, receiving a CPD drive line pressure signal indicative of the pressure in the CPD drive line; and adjusting the pressure supplied to the drive line based at least in part on the drive line pressure signal.

Abstract: An apparatus is disclosed for attaching a counter pulsation device (CPD) to a blood vessel in a human or animal subject, the apparatus including: an interposition graft having a first end configured to be attached to the blood vessel, a second end, and an interior passage providing fluid connection between the first end and the second end; and a pump graft having first end attached to the second end of the interposition graft, a second end configured to be attached to the CPD, and an interior passage providing fluid connection between the first end and the second end In some embodiments, the interior passage of the interposition graft includes a rough surface configured to promote biological growth on the surface, and the interior passage of the pump graft includes a smooth surface configured to inhibit biological growth on the surface.

Abstract: At least one aspect is directed to a totally artificial heart, and at least another aspect is directed to a method of controlling blood flow in a patient. The totally artificial heart may include a first rotary pump having an input to receive blood and an output to provide blood to a patient's lungs, a second rotary pump having an input to receive blood and an output to provide blood to the patient's body, a first sensor associated with the first rotary pump, a second sensor associated with the second rotary pump, and a control system coupled to the first sensor, the second sensor, the first rotary pump and the second rotary pump and configured to control characteristics of the first rotary pump and the second rotary pump based on signals received from at least one of the first sensor and the second sensor such that an average flow of blood through the second rotary pump is greater than an average flow of blood through the first rotary pump.

Abstract: A pump system is disclosed for pumping blood from a patient's right atrium or right ventricle to a patient's pulmonary artery, the pump system including a distal section having at least one outlet; a pumping section in fluid communication with the distal section to provide blood to the outlet of the distal section, the pumping section having at least one inlet valve to receive blood; and a pump constructed and arranged to be positioned within the pumping section to draw blood into the pumping section in a first phase of operation and to pump blood out of the outlet of the distal section in a second phase of operation.

Abstract: At least one aspect of the invention is directed to a pump system for pumping blood though a body passageway. The pump system includes a distal section having at least one inlet to receive blood, a pumping section in fluid communication with the distal section to receive blood from the distal section, and a pump constructed and arranged to be positioned within the pumping section to draw blood into the pumping section in a first phase of operation and to pump blood out of the at least one outlet valve in a second phase of operation. The pump system may be configured such that the at least one inlet is in fluid communication with the pumping section in both the first phase of operation and the second phase of operation. At least one other aspect of the invention is directed to a pump system for pumping blood from one of the right atrium and the right ventricle to the pulmonary artery.

Abstract: At least one aspect of the invention is directed to a pump system for pumping blood though a body passageway. The pump system includes a distal section having at least one inlet to receive blood, a pumping section in fluid communication with the distal section to receive blood from the distal section, and a pump constructed and arranged to be positioned within the pumping section to draw blood into the pumping section in a first phase of operation and to pump blood out of the at least one outlet valve in a second phase of operation. The pump system may be configured such that the at least one inlet is in fluid communication with the pumping section in both the first phase of operation and the second phase of operation. At least one other aspect of the invention is directed to a pump system for pumping blood from one of the right atrium and the right ventricle to the pulmonary artery.

Abstract: Balloon catheters, and medical devices including balloon catheters, are provided that comprise a balloon assembly disposed at the distal end of an elongated tubular member. The balloon, when in the inflated state, includes a body fluid lumen that extends longitudinally through the balloon and is open at the proximal end of the balloon and the distal end of the balloon. In some aspects, the outer surface of the balloon is contiguous from the proximal end to the distal end of the balloon when the balloon is inflated. In other aspects, an endoluminal prosthesis, for example, a stent that can optionally include a prosthetic valve, surrounds the balloon assembly and is adjacent to the outer surface of the balloon. In still other aspects, endoluminal prosthesis implant devices are provided that are suitable for implanting an endoluminal prosthesis in a body vessel containing a flowing fluid such as a vessel in the heart, e.g., the left or right ventricle inflow or outflow tracks.

Abstract: A flow-balanced cardiac wrap that assists the right and left ventricles of an affected heart to differing, and adjustable degrees is provided. The wrap generally applies an assist to the left ventricle that is greater than that applied to the right, or that reduces blood output from the right relative to the left. In one embodiment, the wrap comprises a material covering that is applied around the right and left ventricles of the heart, so that the left ventricle is assisted over a larger surface area than the right. The positioning of the right ventricular portion or the wrap is chosen so that desired pumping characteristics for the right ventricle are achieved.

Abstract: A rotary blood pump comprises a housing and a rotor. The housing includes a blood inlet, a blood outlet, a blood flow conduit disposed between the blood inlet and the blood outlet, and a rotary bearing assembly disposed within and fixed to the housing. The rotor is rotatably disposed within the housing and includes one or more impellor blades disposed within the blood flow conduit for pumping blood through the conduit, and a shaft affixed to and rotating with the rotor. The shaft rotatably engages the bearing assembly to define an intersection between the rotor and the housing and to provide relative rotation between the rotor and the housing. In addition, the shaft further defines an axis of rotation for the rotor. In the rotary pump of the invention, at least one of the rotor and the housing defines a swirl region proximate to the intersection between the rotor and the housing.

Abstract: A biventricular cardiac prosthesis has a flow balance control system to balance blood flow through the left and right sides of the prosthesis to maintain a patient's left atrial pressure within physiologic bounds. The prosthesis can be configured to have flow characteristics so that a signal representative of the difference in hydraulic pumping pressures on the left and right sides of the prosthesis is representative of the difference between left and right atrial pressures of a patient having the prosthesis implanted. This signal can be used as a control signal to drive the prosthesis so that left atrial pressure is approximately equal to right atrial pressure, and within physiologic bounds. A specific prosthesis includes left and right pumping sections, each having a blood pumping chamber and a hydraulic fluid chamber, with a reciprocating hydraulic pump driving systole alternately on the right and left sides.

Abstract: Artificial implantable active and passive girdles include a heart assist system with an artificial myocardium employing a number of flexible, non-distensible tubes with the walls along their long axes connected in series to form a cuff and a passive girdle is wrapped around a heart muscle which has dilatation of a ventricle to conform to the size and shape of the heart and to constrain the dilatation during diastole. The passive girdle is formed of a material and structure that does not expand away from the heart but may, over an extended period of time be decreased in size as dilatation decreases.