Abstract: Sheath assemblies incorporating slotted structures at one or more areas provide areas of different flexibility and bendability characteristics along the length of the sheath assembly. An inner tubular member has an arrangement of discontinuous slots along at least a portion of its length, with at least some of the slots terminating in an enlarged aperture at at least one terminus of the slot, and a flexible outer tubular member contacts and extends over at least a portion of the inner tubular member.

Abstract: Sheath assemblies incorporating slotted structures at one or more areas provide areas of different flexibility and bendability characteristics along the length of the sheath assembly. An inner tubular member has an arrangement of discontinuous slots along at least a portion of its length, with at least some of the slots terminating in an enlarged aperture at at least one terminus of the slot, and a flexible outer tubular member contacts and extends over at least a portion of the inner tubular member.

Abstract: A system and method for providing a vascular image are disclosed wherein a single composite display simultaneously provides a first view of a patient including an angiogram image and a second view including an intravascular image rendered from information provided by an imaging probe mounted on a distal end of a flexible elongate member. A cursor, having a position derived from image information provided by a radiopaque marker proximate the imaging probe, is displayed within the angiogram image to correlate the position of the imaging probe to a presently displayed intravascular image and thus provide an easily discernable identification of a position within a patient corresponding to a currently displayed intravascular image. The resulting composite display simultaneously provides: an intravascular image that includes information about a vessel that is not available from an angiogram and a current location within a vessel of a source of intravascular image data from which the intravascular image is rendered.

Abstract: An improved intravascular blood pump and related methods involving the broad inventive concept of equipping the intravascular blood pump with guiding features such that the intravascular blood pump can be selectively positioned at a predetermined location within the circulatory system of a patient.

Abstract: The present invention relates to systems and methods for transporting fluid between different locations within a body cavity and, in one particular application, systems and methods for transporting fluids to maintain at least partial blood flow through a protected blood flow path within the right and/or left side of the heart during surgery. The protected blood flow path may be established by positioning one or more conduits within at least a portion of the right and/or left sides(s) of the heart. At least partial blood flow may be maintained through the protected blood flow path by the pumping action of a blood pump disposed within the conduit.

Abstract: A cannula assembly provides access to an interior body region. The cannula assembly defines a lumen having a distal region. The lumen includes a bend in the distal region to guide deployment in the body region. A closure assembly can be provided to open and close the cannula assembly to fluid flow.

Abstract: The present invention relates to systems and methods for performing beating heart surgery involving the step of maintaining at least partial blood flow through a protected blood flow path within the right and/or left side of the heart during surgery. The protected blood flow path may be established by positioning one or more conduits within at least a portion of the right and/or left sides(s) of the heart. In a first system, at least partial blood flow may be maintained through the protected blood flow path by the pumping action of a blood pump communicatively coupled to the conduit. In a second system, at least partial blood flow is maintained through the protected blood flow path by the pumping action of the beating heart itself. The systems are therefore capable of maintaining at least partial blood flow through the right and/or left sides(s) of the heart, even during periods when the cardiac output becomes compromised.

Abstract: Pump and cannula systems inserted through the right side and/or left side of the heart provide protection against collapse of the heart chambers and veins and arteries and provide supplemental blood flow through same to enable beating heart or still heart surgery, such as bypass surgery, on all vessels of the heart, including lateral and posterior vessels. Pump and cannula systems are provided for supporting pulmonary and/or circulatory blood flow external of the heart during any beating heart or still heart surgical procedure, including value repair or replacement. The invention eliminates the use of cardiopulmonary bypass (CPB) machines in all heart surgery and utilizes the patient's lung(s) for providing oxygenated blood during heart surgery. The invention further provides stents adapted for protecting from vein, artery, atrium and/or ventricle collapse during beating heart bypass surgery.

Abstract: Pump and cannula systems inserted through the right side and/or left side of the heart provide protection against collapse of the heart chambers and veins and arteries and provide supplemental blood flow through same to enable beating heart bypass surgery on all vessels of the heart, including lateral and posterior vessels. The invention eliminates the use of cardiopulmonary bypass (CPB) machines. The invention further provides stents adapted for protecting from vein, artery, atrium and/or ventricle collapse during beating heart bypass surgery.

Abstract: The present disclosure involves a cannulation system (10) and related methods for augmenting the cardiac output of the heart during cardiac surgery.

Abstract: A cannulation system for cardiac support uses an inner cannula disposed within an outer cannula. The outer cannula includes a fluid inlet for placement within the right atrium of a heart. The inner cannula includes a fluid inlet extending through the fluid inlet of the outer cannula and the atrial septum for placement within at least one of the left atrium and left ventricle of the heart. The cannulation system also employs a pumping assembly coupled to the inner and outer cannulas to withdraw blood from the right atrium for delivery to the pulmonary artery to provide right heart support, or to withdraw blood from at least one of the left atrium and left ventricle for delivery into the aorta to provide left heart support, or both.

Abstract: A blood pump having a supplemental outflow port and/or a supplemental inflow port. A supplemental outflow port can be used to supply blood to regions of the body during heart bypass operations, such as to perfuse heart tissue downstream from an anastomosis site during CABG procedures so as to reduce the damage to the heart tissue. A supplemental inflow port can be used to infuse blood and/or various other fluids or compositions into the patient's blood stream, such as may be helpful or advantageous during emergency situations in cardiac surgery.

Abstract: Systems and methods for creating space within the chest cavity to more easily perform minimally invasive cardiac procedures.

Abstract: Systems and methods for creating space within the chest cavity to more easily perform minimally invasive cardiac procedures.

Abstract: Systems and methods for creating space within the chest cavity to more easily perform minimally invasive cardiac procedures.