Patents by Inventor Zafiris G. Zafirelis

Zafiris G. Zafirelis has filed for patents to protect the following inventions. This listing includes patent applications that are pending as well as patents that have already been granted by the United States Patent and Trademark Office (USPTO).

  • Patent number: 8622949
    Abstract: A method of providing a pumping system for assisting a human patient's heart and providing a blood pump to be disposed outside the patient's body is disclosed. The blood pump has an inlet and an outlet. An inlet cannula is provided for insertion percutaneously into the vascular system of the patient, and is adapted to be placed in fluid communication with the blood pump inlet to provide blood to the blood pump. An outlet perfusion cannula is provided for insertion percutaneously into the vascular system of the patient, and is adapted to be placed in fluid communication with the blood pump outlet to provide blood to the patient's vascular system. The blood pump includes a control system to control the blood pump. The control system includes at least two control units for redundant control of the blood pump, and each control unit includes a watchdog for monitoring the control unit.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 8, 2011
    Date of Patent: January 7, 2014
    Assignee: CardiacAssist, Inc.
    Inventors: Zafiris G. Zafirelis, Yih-Choung Yu, John C. Marous, III, Kirk A. Lehmann, Gregory A. Johnson
  • Patent number: 8454549
    Abstract: A pumping system for assisting a patient's heart includes a blood pump disposed outside the patient's body and having an inlet and an outlet. An inlet cannula is configured for insertion percutaneously into the vascular system of the patient, and in fluid communication with the blood pump inlet to provide blood to the blood pump. An outlet perfusion cannula is configured for insertion percutaneously into the vascular system of the patient, and in fluid communication with the blood pump outlet to provide blood to the patient's vascular system. A control system is provided to control the blood pump and includes at least two control units for redundant control of the blood pump. Each control unit includes a watchdog for monitoring the control unit. A variation of the pumping system includes a bidirectional cannula for insertion percutaneously into the vascular system of the patient and to extend into the patient's heart.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 20, 2011
    Date of Patent: June 4, 2013
    Assignee: CardiacAssist, Inc.
    Inventors: Zafiris G. Zafirelis, John C. Marous, III, Yih-Choung Yu, Kirk A. Lehmann, Greg A. Johnson
  • Publication number: 20110245582
    Abstract: A method of providing a pumping system for assisting a human patient's heart and providing a blood pump to be disposed outside the patient's body is disclosed. The blood pump has an inlet and an outlet. An inlet cannula is provided for insertion percutaneously into the vascular system of the patient, and is adapted to be placed in fluid communication with the blood pump inlet to provide blood to the blood pump. An outlet perfusion cannula is provided for insertion percutaneously into the vascular system of the patient, and is adapted to be placed in fluid communication with the blood pump outlet to provide blood to the patient's vascular system. The blood pump includes a control system to control the blood pump. The control system includes at least two control units for redundant control of the blood pump, and each control unit includes a watchdog for monitoring the control unit.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 8, 2011
    Publication date: October 6, 2011
    Applicant: CARDIACASSIST, INC.
    Inventors: Zafiris G. Zafirelis, John C. Marous, III, Yih-Choung Yu, Kirk A. Lehmann, Greg A. Johnson
  • Publication number: 20110160518
    Abstract: A system for assisting flow of blood by a patient's heart. The system includes a transseptal cannula adapted to be inserted percutaneously in the vascular system and extend through the atrial septum from the right atrium to the left atrium. The system includes a blood pump mechanism having a blood pump for pumping blood received from the transseptal cannula that has been oxygenated at specified flow rates over a range of physiological pressures. The blood pump is connected to the transseptal cannula. The system includes a perfusion cannula adapted to be inserted percutaneously in the vascular system for returning oxygenated blood to the atrial system of the patient. The perfusion cannula is connected to the blood pump.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 20, 2011
    Publication date: June 30, 2011
    Applicant: CARDIACASSIST, INC.
    Inventors: Zafiris G. Zafirelis, John C. Marous, III, Yih-Choung Yu, Kirk A. Lehmann, Greg A. Johnson
  • Patent number: 7896832
    Abstract: A system for assisting flow of blood by a patient's heart. The system includes a transseptal cannula adapted to be inserted percutaneously in the jugular vein and extend through the atrial septum from the right atrium to the left atrium. The system includes a blood pump mechanism having a blood pump for pumping blood received from the transseptal cannula that has been oxygenated at specified flow rates over a range of physiological pressures. The blood pump is connected to the transseptal cannula. The system includes a perfusion cannula adapted to be inserted percutaneously in the axillary artery for returning oxygenated blood to the atrial system of the patient. The perfusion cannula is connected to the blood pump. A method for assisting blood flow by a patient's heart. The method includes the steps of inserting percutaneously in the jugular vein of the patient and extending through the atrial septum from the right atrium to the left atrium a transseptal cannula.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 20, 2004
    Date of Patent: March 1, 2011
    Assignee: CardiacAssist, Inc.
    Inventors: Zafiris G. Zafirelis, John C. Marous, III, Yih-Choung Yu, Kirk A. Lehmann, Greg A. Johnson
  • Patent number: 6808508
    Abstract: A system for assisting flow of blood by a patient's heart. The system includes a transseptal cannula adapted to be inserted percutaneously in the femoral vein and extend through the atrial septum from the right atrium to the left atrium. The system includes a blood pump mechanism having a blood pump for pumping blood received from the transseptal cannula that has been oxygenated at specified flow rates over a range of physiological pressures. The blood pump is connected to the transseptal cannula. The system includes a perfusion cannula adapted to be inserted percutaneously in the femoral artery for returning oxygenated blood to the atrial system of the patient. The perfusion cannula is connected to the blood pump. A method for assisting blood flow by a patient's heart. The method includes the steps of inserting percutaneously in the femoral vein of the patient and extending through the atrial septum from the right atrium to the left atrium a transseptal cannula.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 13, 2000
    Date of Patent: October 26, 2004
    Assignee: CardiacAssist, Inc.
    Inventors: Zafiris G. Zafirelis, John C. Marous, III, Yih-Choung Yu, Kirk A. Lehmann, Gregory A. Johnson