Cardiac Augmentation (pulsators, Etc.) Patents (Class 600/16)
  • Patent number: 10835655
    Abstract: A blood pump system includes a first implantable housing, an implantable blood pump independent from the first implantable housing, and a percutaneous extension. The first implantable housing includes a rechargeable power storage device. The implantable blood pump supplements the pumping function of a heart. The rechargeable power storage device supplies electrical power to the implantable blood pump. The percutaneous extension is coupled to the rechargeable power storage device and adapted to traverse the skin. The percutaneous extension is configured to releasably connect to an external power supply adapted to provide power for recharging or supplementing the rechargeable power storage device to power the implantable blood pump.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 3, 2018
    Date of Patent: November 17, 2020
    Assignee: TC1 LLC
    Inventors: Charles Dague, Kevin Bourque
  • Patent number: 10828049
    Abstract: A medical device and method are disclosed which can cause a filter included in a cylinder to capture a capturing target by causing a fluid including a circulating flow to flow inside and around the cylinder introduced into a living body. The medical device has a filter, a cylinder, and an impeller. The filter captures a capturing target present inside a living body. The cylinder includes a lumen having the filter arranged therein, an aspiration section, which is open on the distal side of the lumen, and a discharge section which is open on a side surface on a proximal side of the lumen. The impeller is arranged on a proximal side of the filter in the lumen, and causes the lumen to aspirate the capturing target together with a fluid by causing the fluid to flow from the aspiration section toward the discharge section inside the living body.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 18, 2016
    Date of Patent: November 10, 2020
    Assignee: TERUMO KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventors: Kei Honda, Takehisa Mori
  • Patent number: 10799624
    Abstract: The catheter device comprises a motor located at the proximal end of the catheter device and a drive shaft, extending from the proximal end section to the distal end section of the catheter device, for driving a rotating element located at the distal end of the catheter device. The catheter device also comprises a hose-like catheter body which encompasses the drive shaft and extends from the proximal end section to the distal end section of the catheter device. At the proximal end of the catheter device, the drive shaft is connected to a motor by a clutch. The clutch is a magnetic clutch with a proximal and a distal magnet unit. The proximal magnet unit is connected to the motor and the distal magnet unit to the drive shaft. The distal magnet unit is mounted fluid-tight in a clutch housing. The proximal end of the catheter body makes a fluid-tight connection with the clutch housing.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 29, 2015
    Date of Patent: October 13, 2020
    Assignee: AIS GMBH AACHEN INNOVATIVE SOLUTIONS
    Inventors: Joachim Georg Pfeffer, Thomas Schmitz-Rode, Rolf W. Gunther
  • Patent number: 10799626
    Abstract: A blood pump comprises a pump casing having a blood flow inlet and outlet, and an impeller arranged in said pump casing so as to be rotatable. The impeller has blades sized and shaped for conveying blood from the blood flow inlet to the blood flow outlet. The blood pump comprises an outflow cannula having an upstream end portion, a downstream end portion and an intermediate portion. The upstream end portion is connected to the pump casing such that blood is conveyed from the blood flow outlet through the intermediate portion towards the downstream end portion. The downstream end portion has a blood flow outlet through which blood can exit the outflow cannula. At least a portion of the intermediate portion of the outflow cannula has an outer diameter that is larger than an outer diameter of the pump casing.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 23, 2016
    Date of Patent: October 13, 2020
    Assignee: Abiomed Europe GMBH
    Inventors: Thorsten Siess, Walid Aboulhosn
  • Patent number: 10792407
    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.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 12, 2018
    Date of Patent: October 6, 2020
    Inventors: John Duc Nguyen, John Donald Hill, Fabian Franco, Chris Eskildsen, David Gary Eldridge, Carine Hoarau, Yi-Ren Woo, John J. Hagerty, Pete Cardamone
  • Patent number: 10786609
    Abstract: An implantable device for improving the pump function of the heart of a human patient by applying an external force on a first position of the heart muscle following the heart's contractions. The implantable device comprising a first pump device adapted to assist the pump function of the heart. The pump device comprises a first reservoir having a first volume and adapted to varying said first volume, a second reservoir having a second volume and adapted to varying said second volume, a fluid connection adapted to fluidly connect said first reservoir with said second reservoir, such that fluid can flow between said first reservoir and said second reservoir.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 14, 2017
    Date of Patent: September 29, 2020
    Inventor: Peter Forsell
  • Patent number: 10744255
    Abstract: A system and methods of using a multi-lumen catheter and a blood pump to increase cardiac output and blood oxygenation are described. The system diverts deoxygenated blood from the right atrium to the left atrium, through the atrial septum. The catheter is adapted for simultaneously pumping blood to and from a patient's heart. A gas exchanger may be used as part of the system to remove CO2 and add o2 to the blood that is pumped via the system. Components or portions of the system may be implantable in the patient.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 22, 2015
    Date of Patent: August 18, 2020
    Assignee: HeartWare, Inc.
    Inventor: Daniel Burkhoff
  • Patent number: 10737007
    Abstract: A patient adapter for connecting a driveline cable between an implantable blood pump and a controller. The patient adapter provides a sufficiently large form factor to make connecting ends of a driveline cable easy for patients who lack dexterity or have unclear vision. The patient adapter includes an adapter body that defines a central lumen that extends through an entire length of the adapter body. The central lumen is configured to receive an end of a percutaneous end connector of the driveline cable and an end of a controller end connector of the driveline cable. The patient adapter includes a first mating feature configured to engage a corresponding feature of the percutaneous end connector and a second mating feature configured to engage a corresponding feature of the controller end connector. A thickness of the adapter body is greatest at a position proximate the controller end connector.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 30, 2018
    Date of Patent: August 11, 2020
    Assignee: TC1 LLC
    Inventors: Julien Duhamel, John Mark Di Paola, Dustin Roelle, Dmitry Protsenko
  • Patent number: 10729831
    Abstract: A system for facilitating fluid connection between cannulae and a blood pump. The system includes a cannula having a distal end adapted to be in fluid communication with the circulatory system and a proximal end configured to couple to an inlet of the blood pump. Further included is a tunneling device configured to be inserted into a body of a patient to direct the proximal end of the cannula adjacent to the inlet and including a second connecting structure. Further included is a plug which has a first plug part and a second plug part. The first plug part includes a second connecting structure, the first and second connecting structures being selectively engageable. The second plug part is configured to be inserted in the proximal end of the cannula. The first and second plug parts are selectively disengageable to allow in situ disconnection between the cannula and tunneling device.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 16, 2018
    Date of Patent: August 4, 2020
    Assignee: CircuLite, Inc.
    Inventors: Robert C. Farnan, Brad Aurilia, Cesar Gomez
  • Patent number: 10722633
    Abstract: Systems and related methods for supplying power to a medical device employ self-charging serially-connectable portable batteries. A system includes a base module and external battery modules. The base module is operatively coupled with the medical device and includes a base module input connector. Each of the external battery modules includes one or more battery cells, an output connector, an input connector, and a controller. The output connector is configured to output electrical power from the external battery module. The input connector is configured to receive electrical power from another of the plurality of external battery modules. The controller is operatively coupled with the one or more battery cells, the output connector, and the input connector. The controller is configured to control distribution of electrical power received via the input connector to charge the one or more battery cells and/or to be output via the output connector.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 7, 2018
    Date of Patent: July 28, 2020
    Assignee: TC1 LLC
    Inventors: Brian Kimball, Joseph C. Stark, III, Peter Thatcher, John Freddy Hansen, Peter Andriola, Carine Hoarau, Jaime Arturo Romero, Jesse Gage
  • Patent number: 10722632
    Abstract: Methods, systems, and devices for a mechanical circulatory support system are disclosed herein. An implantable power supply can be part of a mechanical circulatory support system. The implantable power supply can include one or several energy storage components, a power source, a voltage converter, and an output bus. Power can be provided to the voltage converter from one or both of the power source and the first energy storage component. The voltage converter can convert the voltage of the power from a first voltage to a second voltage and can power the output bus.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 28, 2018
    Date of Patent: July 28, 2020
    Assignee: TC1 LLC
    Inventors: Ethan Petersen, Joseph C. Stark
  • Patent number: 10722625
    Abstract: A catheter includes a catheter body, a pump assembly and a cannula. The pump assembly can be disposed at a distal end of the catheter body and has a distal portion. The cannula can be coupled to the distal end portion of the pump assembly and can include a proximal cannula portion and a distal cannula portion. The distal cannula portion has an approximately helical shape which can allow the cannula to be inserted into a patient's right heart and pump blood therethrough. In certain implementations, the distal tip of the helical shape has a slight bias relative to the main helix to further facilitate delivery of the device. In certain applications this bias is toward the central axis of the helix.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 17, 2016
    Date of Patent: July 28, 2020
    Assignee: Abiomed, Inc.
    Inventor: Christopher Zarins
  • Patent number: 10716668
    Abstract: A delivery device includes an inner shaft, an outer sheath, a nosecone, and a tether component. The outer sheath is slidably disposed over the inner shaft. The nosecone is removably coupled to the inner shaft. The nosecone includes a delivery configuration for delivery to a treatment site, a radially compressed configuration in which a portion of the nosecone is configured to traverse through a heart wall, and a radially expanded configuration in which an outer surface of the nosecone contacts an outer surface of the heart wall. The tether component includes a first end coupled to the nosecone. The nosecone is configured to plug a piercing in the heart wall when in the radially expanded configuration.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 5, 2017
    Date of Patent: July 21, 2020
    Assignee: MEDTRONIC, INC.
    Inventor: Jason Quill
  • Patent number: 10709829
    Abstract: A catheter system for a catheter pump is disclosed. The system can include an elongate catheter body having a distal portion including an expandable cannula having an inlet and an outlet. The expandable cannula can have a delivery profile and an operational profile larger than the delivery profile. An impeller assembly can include an impeller shaft and an impeller body. A sheath can have a cannula retention zone disposed over the expandable cannula and a separation zone. The cannula retention zone can have a first configuration adapted to retain the expandable cannula in the delivery profile. The system can be adapted to separate the separation zone into a first portion and a second portion disposed across a gap. The gap can enable the elongate catheter body to pass between the first and second portion so that the sheath can be removed from the elongate catheter body.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 20, 2018
    Date of Patent: July 14, 2020
    Assignee: TC1 LLC
    Inventor: Paul F. Muller
  • Patent number: 10694977
    Abstract: A device for treating a vascular aneurysm of a human or mammal patient, comprising an implantable member adapted to hold fluid, the implantable member being adapted to be placed against an outside of a blood vessel having the aneurysm, exercise a pressure on the aneurysm to prevent or reduce an expansion of the aneurysm, follow an outer contour of the aneurysm, and provide a pressure that is equal or less than the diastolic blood pressure of the human or mammal patient.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 23, 2017
    Date of Patent: June 30, 2020
    Inventor: Peter Forsell
  • Patent number: 10682449
    Abstract: A disclosed apparatus or method can include or use a non-transluminally implantantable blood pump housing, which can be sized and shaped to be implanted at an aortic valve of a human subject, the pump housing can include: a pump housing cross-sectional profile size that is larger than is passable via a blood vessel of the human subject; and a power connection, configured for being electrically connected to an intravascular lead that is sized and shaped to extend from the pump housing through a subclavian artery of the human subject.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 27, 2017
    Date of Patent: June 16, 2020
    Assignee: Berlin Heart GmbH
    Inventors: Ares K. Menon, Peter Nüsser
  • Patent number: 10668195
    Abstract: A catheter blood pump includes a catheter, an expandable impeller housing, a drive cable, and a fixed-diameter impeller. The drive cable, which is operatively coupled to an extracorporeal motor, conveys torque that drives rotation of the impeller. The catheter and impeller housing are movable independently of one another to alter the relative axial positions of the catheter, impeller housing, and the fixed-diameter impeller. This arrangement maximizes the diameter of the catheter blood pump's fixed-diameter impeller.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 3, 2019
    Date of Patent: June 2, 2020
    Assignee: FBR Medical, Inc.
    Inventor: Jesus Flores
  • Patent number: 10660996
    Abstract: A cardiac pump includes a plain bearing assembly having a first plain bearing portion that is coupled to a cardiac pump rotor and a second lain bearing portion that is coupled to a cardiac pump housing. The plain bearing assembly is configured to rotatably support the cardiac pump rotor within the cardiac pump housing in at least an axial direction of the cardiac pump rotor. A magnetic bearing assembly includes a first magnetic bearing portion that is coupled to the cardiac pump rotor and a second magnetic bearing portion that is coupled to the cardiac pump housing. The magnetic bearing assembly is configured to rotatably support the cardiac pump rotor within the cardiac pump housing in a radial direction of the cardiac pump rotor and bias the cardiac pump rotor in the axial direction such that the magnetic bearing assembly provides a preload force to preload the plain bearing assembly.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 9, 2015
    Date of Patent: May 26, 2020
    Assignee: Calon Cardio-Technology Ltd.
    Inventor: Graham Foster
  • Patent number: 10658085
    Abstract: The present invention relates to a method for determining patient-specific blood vessel information. More specifically, the present invention relates to a method for determining patient-specific cardiovascular information by applying a simplified coronary circulation model thereto. Furthermore, the present invention relates to a method for determining a blood flow rate for branches of a blood vessel having originated from an artery of each patient.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 31, 2015
    Date of Patent: May 19, 2020
    Assignee: KNU-INDUSTRY COORPORATION FOUNDATION
    Inventor: Eun Bo Shim
  • Patent number: 10639103
    Abstract: This invention is related to an operation scenario flow, mechanical modeling and analysis system comprising web based, (i) growth (ii) scaling and (iii) quality control aimed, patient based fast prototyping functions, for newborn and fetus cardiovascular repair operations, developed in order to be used for training of doctors and patient specific post surgery performance prediction in hospitals following and prior to, cardiovascular operations within the field of bioengineering in the health sector. Moreover it can be used for both vivo implantation plans of patient specific cardiovascular devices (custom cardiac valve and cardiac support pumps) and adaptation of said devices to the physiology of the patient.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 11, 2014
    Date of Patent: May 5, 2020
    Inventors: Senol Piskin, Kerem Pekkan, Mehmet Berk Yigit
  • Patent number: 10639478
    Abstract: Neuromodulation is used to enhance left ventricular relaxation. An exemplary neuromodulation system includes a therapy element positionable in proximity to at least one nerve fiber, and a stimulator configured to energize the therapy element to delivery therapy to the at least one nerve fiber such that left ventricular relaxation and left ventricular contractility are contemporaneously enhanced.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 31, 2018
    Date of Patent: May 5, 2020
    Assignee: NeuroTronik IP Holding (Jersey) Limited
    Inventors: Michael Cuchiara, Stephen C Masson
  • Patent number: 10632239
    Abstract: A centrifugal blood pump uses the “double suction” arrangement of the blood flow channels, by dividing the blood flow across the impeller into two practically identical streams, one flowing across the upstream side of the impeller and the other flowing across the downstream side. The double suction arrangement is obtained by using a “flow through cone bearing” mounted to the hub of the impeller. The impeller is attached to the driving motor by three posts, which do not significantly diminish the flow area. The annular flow through the motor “air gap” reaches the flow channel as a single stream and divides into two streams in the vicinity of the posts. The flow is distributed equally to the two sides of the impeller. After passing across the impeller the two streams combine into one that enters the spiral volute and continues past the pump cutwater and through the outflow channel.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 8, 2017
    Date of Patent: April 28, 2020
    Assignee: Jervik Heart, Inc.
    Inventor: Robert Jarvik
  • Patent number: 10636260
    Abstract: A wearable device for providing haptic stimulations is provided. The wearable device includes: (i) a wearable structure attachable to a portion of a user's body; (ii) a plurality of bladders, integrated with the wearable structure, configured to expand and contract according to fluid pressure within each bladder, where each bladder of the plurality of bladders delivers a haptic stimulation to the user wearing the wearable structure when the bladder expands a threshold amount; and (iii) at least one conduit configured to transport a fluid from a fluid source to one or more bladders of the plurality of bladders, where the fluid from the fluid source increases the fluid pressure within at least the one or more bladders. The haptic stimulation experienced by the user can correspond to media presented to the user by an artificial-reality system.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 31, 2019
    Date of Patent: April 28, 2020
    Assignee: Facebook Technologies, LLC
    Inventors: Eric Young, Priyanshu Agarwal, Nicholas Colonnese, Amirhossein Hajiagha Memar
  • Patent number: 10610356
    Abstract: An apparatus for use in the delivery of a prosthetic mitral valve may include an epicardial pad configured to engage an outside surface of a heart to secure a prosthetic heart valve in position within the heart. The epicardial pad defines a lumen configured to receive therethrough a tether extending from the prosthetic valve. The epicardial pad is movable between a first configuration in which the epicardial pad has a first outer perimeter and is configured to be disposed within a lumen of a delivery sheath and a second configuration in which the epicardial pad has a second outer perimeter greater than the first outer perimeter. The epicardial pad can be disposed against the outside surface of the heart when in the second configuration to secure the prosthetic valve and tether in a desired position within the heart.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 19, 2017
    Date of Patent: April 7, 2020
    Assignee: Tendyne Holdings, Inc.
    Inventors: Robert M. Vidlund, Igor Kovalsky, Zachary J. Tegels, Craig A. Ekvall
  • Patent number: 10583234
    Abstract: An implantable heart help device adapted for implantation in a human patient is provided. The device comprising a fixating member adapted to fixate said device to a part of the human body comprising bone. Further a method of fixating an implantable heart help device in a human patient is provided. The method comprises the steps of: cutting the skin of said human patient, dissecting an area of the body comprising bone, and fixating said implantable heart help device to said part of the body comprising bone.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 12, 2009
    Date of Patent: March 10, 2020
    Inventor: Peter Forsell
  • Patent number: 10576192
    Abstract: A catheter pump is disclosed herein. The catheter pump can include an elongate catheter body and an impeller assembly coupled to a distal portion of the elongate catheter body. The impeller assembly can comprise an impeller configured to rotate during operation of the catheter pump. A tube can extend through at least portions of the elongate catheter body and the impeller assembly. The tube can extend distal the impeller and can be configured to remain in the portions of the elongate catheter body and the impeller assembly during operation of the catheter pump.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 26, 2017
    Date of Patent: March 3, 2020
    Assignee: TC1 LLC
    Inventors: Paul F. Muller, Keif M. Fitzgerald, Richard L. Keenan
  • Patent number: 10576191
    Abstract: An implantable blood pump including an inflow cannula, the inflow cannula having a malleable tube including an inflow portion, a steering assembly coupled to the inflow portion of the tube, an actuator coupled to the steering assembly for applying a force to the tube, and a cannula tip extending from the inflow portion of the tube and defining an aperture in fluid communication with the tube.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 19, 2017
    Date of Patent: March 3, 2020
    Assignee: HeartWare, Inc.
    Inventor: Jeffrey A. LaRose
  • Patent number: 10576193
    Abstract: A catheter pump is disclosed herein. The catheter pump can include a catheter assembly that comprises a drive shaft and an impeller coupled to a distal end of the drive shaft. A driven assembly can be coupled to a proximal end of the drive shaft within a driven assembly housing. The catheter pump can also include a drive system that comprises a motor and a drive magnet coupled to an output shaft of the motor. The drive system can include a drive assembly housing having at least one magnet therein. Further, a securement device can be configured to prevent disengagement of the driven assembly housing from the drive assembly housing during operation of the pump.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 19, 2016
    Date of Patent: March 3, 2020
    Assignee: TC1 LLC
    Inventors: Adam R. Tanner, Richard L. Keenan, Doug M. Messner, Michael R. Butler
  • Patent number: 10561773
    Abstract: So as to be able to determine the position of a functional element as precisely as possible during the invasive use of a blood pump in a patient's body without the use of imaging methods, the blood pump is connected to a main sensor which records signals of the patient's heart, which are compared to other electrophysiological heart signals recorded by several sensors distributed on the body surface so as to allow the position of the blood pump to be determined by way of linking.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 4, 2012
    Date of Patent: February 18, 2020
    Assignee: ECP ENTWICKLUNGSGESELLSCHAFT MBH
    Inventors: Markus Ferrari, Joerg Schumacher
  • Patent number: 10561425
    Abstract: Some embodiments of a system or method for treating heart tissue can include a control system and catheter device operated in a manner to intermittently occlude a heart vessel for controlled periods of time that provide redistribution of blood flow. In particular embodiments, the system can be configured to provide an estimation of the cumulative effects of the treatment. For example, some embodiments of the system or method can treat myocardium that is at risk of infarction by intermittently altering blood flow in a venous system to induce microcirculation within the myocardium, and can output a cumulative dosage value indicative of a measurement of progress of reducing an infarct size.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 29, 2017
    Date of Patent: February 18, 2020
    Assignee: Miracor Medical SA
    Inventors: Lars Roman Schiemanck, Martin Haidacher
  • Patent number: 10557475
    Abstract: In a rotor for a fluid pump which is made radially-compressible and expandable and has a hub (4) and at least one conveying element (10, 11, 19, 20) which has a plurality of struts (12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 21, 22, 27, 28) and at least one membrane (18) which can be spanned between them, provision is made for a design in accordance with the invention which is as simple and inexpensive as possible that at least one first group of struts is pivotable in a pivot plane, starting from a common base, and can thus be spanned open in the manner of a fan, wherein the conveying element lies along the hub and contacts it over its full length in the expanded state to avoid a pressure loss at the margin of the conveying element between it and the hub and thus to realize an optimum efficiency.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 12, 2018
    Date of Patent: February 11, 2020
    Assignee: ECP ENTWICKLUNGSGESELLSCHAFT MBH
    Inventor: Daniel Roehn
  • Patent number: 10555718
    Abstract: Apparatus and methods are described herein for use in the alignment and deployment of a prosthetic heart valve, such as a mitral valve. In some embodiments, an apparatus includes a tube assembly and a needle assembly configured to be received through a lumen of an outer tube member of the tube assembly. The needle assembly includes an elongate needle having a distal tip configured to be inserted through the epicardial surface of a heart. An imaging probe is coupled to a coupling member and includes an imaging element. The imaging probe is configured to provide image data associated with a location of a commissural-commissural (C-C) plane and a location of the anterior-posterior (A-P) plane of the mitral valve and the annular region of the heart such that a prosthetic mitral valve can be positioned within the heart based at least in part on the C-C plane and the A-P plane.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 30, 2016
    Date of Patent: February 11, 2020
    Assignee: Tendyne Holdings, Inc.
    Inventors: Robert M. Vidlund, Craig A. Ekvall
  • Patent number: 10554079
    Abstract: Disclosed is an ultrasonic short-range wireless power transmission system comprising: an ultrasonic transmission transducer configured to transmit power, wherein the ultrasonic transmission transducer comprises: a converter configured to convert power received from an external power source; a controller configured to control power of a modulator and power of an amplifier; a communication unit configured to communicate with an external reception transducer; a sensor configured to sense ultrasonic waves transferred from an ultrasonic wave emission region; the modulator electrically connected to the controller and configured to generate a signal for ultrasonic short-range wireless power transmission; and the amplifier configured to amplify a modulation signal generated by the modulator and convert the modulation signal into power; and one or more transmission modules configured to receive the power from the amplifier and convert an electrical reception signal into ultrasonic waves.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 3, 2019
    Date of Patent: February 4, 2020
    Inventor: Seong Hoon Park
  • Patent number: 10525179
    Abstract: A blood pump including a housing defining a fluid flow path, an upstream end, a downstream end, and an outlet at the downstream end. A rotor is disposed within the housing and within the fluid flow path, the rotor being rotatable independent of the housing in a first direction and configured to pump blood downstream toward the outlet. The housing defines an inflow cannula at the upstream end, the inflow cannula defining a proximal end proximate the rotor and an opposite distal end. The inflow cannula defines a major longitudinal axis and minor longitudinal axis, the distal end of inflow cannula defines a plurality of slots radially disposed about the distal end, the plurality of slots being at least one from the group consisting of sloped in the first direction with respect to the major longitudinal axis and angled in the first direction with respect to the minor longitudinal axis.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 29, 2017
    Date of Patent: January 7, 2020
    Assignee: HeartWare, Inc.
    Inventors: Jeffrey A. Larose, Charles R. Shambaugh, Mustafa E. Taskin
  • Patent number: 10524954
    Abstract: Embodiments of the invention include methods and devices to prevent or treat upper airway disorders in mammals related to impaired airflow. One aspect of this invention is a tongue retractor (LTR) that indirectly retracts tongue base by its implant site in the frenulum area. This simplifies the insertion, adjustment and maintenance of the device. Another aspect of this invention describes a highly localized and fully implantable LTR that is inserted into the base of tongue to stiffen lax surface mucosa or mechanically couple it to internal tongue structures. Another aspect of this invention is an LTR inserted in or around the pharyngoglossal fold. This site allows retraction and stiffening of tongue base tissue as well as the soft palate and lateral pharyngeal wall.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 6, 2007
    Date of Patent: January 7, 2020
    Assignee: Linguaflex, Inc.
    Inventor: Ira Sanders
  • Patent number: 10518009
    Abstract: The invention provides an introducer assembly for delivering a blood pump into vasculature of a subject, as well as a method for utilizing the assembly.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 2, 2017
    Date of Patent: December 31, 2019
    Assignee: NuPulseCV, Inc.
    Inventors: Valluvan Jeevanandam, Robert Smith
  • Patent number: 10517724
    Abstract: A medical system for treating a defective mitral valve (MV) having an annulus (A). The system has a removable and flexible elongate displacement unit for temporary insertion into a coronary sinus (CS) adjacent the valve, wherein the displacement unit has a delivery state for delivery into said CS, and an activated state to which the displacement unit is temporarily and reversibly transferable from the delivery state. The displacement unit has a proximal reversibly expandable portion, a distal anchoring portion being movable in relation to the proximal expandable portion in a longitudinal direction of the displacement unit to the activated state in which the shape of the annulus is modified to a modified shape (A?); and an annuloplasty device for permanent fixation at the mitral valve annulus by annuloplasty of the valve when the modified shape is obtained.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 21, 2014
    Date of Patent: December 31, 2019
    Assignee: Medtentia International Ltd. Oy
    Inventors: Olli Keränen, Hans-Reinhard Zerkowski
  • Patent number: 10507272
    Abstract: There is disclosed apparatus and methods for providing a reserve power source for a ventricular assist device. In an embodiment, the apparatus includes a primary power source for powering the device, and a controller housing having a reserve battery for powering the device when the primary power source provides inadequate power, and the controller housing configured for use externally of the patient with a percutaneous cable to the device. In another embodiment, a method includes powering the device with a primary power source, monitoring power provided to the device, powering the device when the power is monitored as inadequate to the device with a reserve power source disposed within a controller housing, the device disposed subcutaneously within a patient, the controller housing disposed externally of the patient, and the device and the controller housing connected by a percutaneous cable. Other embodiments are also disclosed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 2, 2018
    Date of Patent: December 17, 2019
    Assignee: WorldHeart, Inc.
    Inventors: Jim Lee, James Malmstrom, James Long
  • Patent number: 10507030
    Abstract: A medical device and method are disclosed, which can sufficiently capture a capturing target even if a lumen is deformed. A medical device has an accommodation unit and an impeller holding unit. The accommodation unit includes a lumen which accommodates a capturing target present inside a living body, in which a shape of at least a portion on a distal side is deformable, and whose inner surface before and after deformation is configured to be flat as a whole, a distal opening portion and a proximal opening portion which respectively communicate with the lumen, and a filter for capturing at least one or more of the capturing targets. The impeller holding unit includes an impeller which causes a fluid to flow from the distal opening portion toward the proximal opening portion inside the living body so as to allow the lumen to aspirate the capturing target together with the fluid.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 11, 2016
    Date of Patent: December 17, 2019
    Assignee: Terumo Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventor: Kei Honda
  • Patent number: 10500322
    Abstract: Methods and systems are provided for determining an outlet pressure prevailing at an outlet of a heart assist system. An inlet pressure which prevails at an inlet of the heart assist system may be determined. A pressure difference between the inlet and the outlet of the heart assist system may be determined. The outlet pressure may be determined from the inlet pressure and the pressure difference.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 1, 2015
    Date of Patent: December 10, 2019
    Assignee: BERLIN HEART GMBH
    Inventor: Dominik Karch
  • Patent number: 10499923
    Abstract: Veins and other blood vessels may be reshaped by introducing an implant through the vessel walls with anchors positioned on opposite sides of the wall. The anchors typically include an elongate body having coils or other anchors formed therein. The implants may be delivered percutaneously using a cannula which can hold the anchor externally or internally. The methods and devices are useful in treating a dorsal vein to reduce blood flow in patients suffering from erectile dysfunction.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 26, 2018
    Date of Patent: December 10, 2019
    Assignee: Sano V Pte Ltd
    Inventors: Eitan Konstantino, Gary Binyamin, Steven Wiesner, Li Min Koh
  • Patent number: 10493191
    Abstract: A method and system are provided for percutaneously gaining access to oxygenated blood with one or more anastomosis devices and pumping such oxygenated blood directly to the aorta adjacent to the right atrium or left atrium via a VAD system. In one embodiment, a VAD system can be implanted with open surgery.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 1, 2018
    Date of Patent: December 3, 2019
    Assignee: Coherex Medical, Inc.
    Inventors: Brian K. Whisenant, Richard J. Linder, Scott D. Miles, David L. Stott, Randall K. Jones
  • Patent number: 10492911
    Abstract: A ventricular ejection device adapted to be delivered percutaneously or surgically in to a ventricle of the heart, and the device comprising of an anchoring stent which is adapted to be fitted along a perimeter to a myocardium of the ventricle, and a recoiling part in physical coupling to the anchoring stent, extends from the perimeter of the anchoring stent to a center of the device, and adapted to extend or recoil based on flow of blood into and out of the ventricle.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 20, 2017
    Date of Patent: December 3, 2019
    Inventor: Mohan Thanikachalam
  • Patent number: 10478542
    Abstract: An intravascular heart pump assembly can include a rotor with at least one impeller blade, and a cannula. The present application describes various cannulas that can be manufactured from multiple layers of material to improve flexibility, manufacturability, and durability without increasing an outer diameter of the cannula. In one embodiment, the cannula includes an inflow section having a sheet formed of a shape memory material embedded within a polymer and having at least one lateral hole or aperture in the inflow section. The at least one lateral hole is defined by a first hole in the sheet and a second hole in the outer polymer layer of the cannula. The first hole and the second hole overlap so that blood can enter the cannula through the holes.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 20, 2017
    Date of Patent: November 19, 2019
    Assignee: ABIOMED, INC.
    Inventor: Emilia Jahangir
  • Patent number: 10463843
    Abstract: A blood clot removal device for removing blood clots from the vascular system of a patient is implantable in the patient's body. The blood clot removal device comprises a blood flow passageway to be connected to the patient's vascular system to allow circulation of the patient's blood through the blood flow passageway, a filter provided in the blood flow passageway for collecting blood clots occurring in the blood flowing through the blood flow passageway, and a cleaning device for moving blood clots collected by the filter out of the blood flow passageway. By means of such blood clot removal device, the risk of blood clots reaching sensitive areas of the patient's body, such as the brain, is reduced.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 4, 2016
    Date of Patent: November 5, 2019
    Inventor: Peter Forsell
  • Patent number: 10449278
    Abstract: A heart pump device may be provided with an implantable heart pump, which has at least one sensor, wherein at least one of the sensors is a sensor for a rotor of the heart pump, and with a control device, which is connected to the heart pump by means of a transcutaneous line, characterized by a signal processing device, which on the one hand is connected by means of the transcutaneous line to the control device, and which on the other hand is connected to at least one sensor of the heart pump and transmits signals of at least one sensor via the transcutaneous line to the control unit. The signal processing device may be for a pre-processing of the sensor data for more efficient transmission via the transcutaneous line.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 17, 2016
    Date of Patent: October 22, 2019
    Assignee: BERLIN HEART GMBH
    Inventors: Sebastian Kallenbach, Helge Krambeck, Ralph Breuel
  • Patent number: 10449274
    Abstract: A system for facilitating fluid connection between cannulae and a blood pump. The system includes a cannula having proximal and distal ends. The distal end of the cannula adapted to be in fluid communication with the circulatory system. The proximal end of the cannula configured to couple to an inlet of the blood pump. The system further includes a tunneling device configured to be inserted into a body of a patient to direct the proximal end of the cannula adjacent to the inlet for connection thereto. The cannula further includes a first connecting structure. The tunneling device further includes a second connecting structure. The first and second connecting structures are selectively engageable to allow connection and disconnection between the cannula and tunneling device.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 24, 2014
    Date of Patent: October 22, 2019
    Assignee: CircuLite, Inc.
    Inventors: Bryan P. Fritz, Robert C. Farnan, Andrew J. Dusbabek, Oliver Marseille, Murat Camkiran, Grant Thompson, Scott A. Olson
  • Patent number: 10449275
    Abstract: An apparatus is disclosed including: a cannula having a shape closely matched to the anatomy of the right ventricle of the human heart, where the cannula has an outflow port configured to be located proximal the pulmonary artery and an inflow port located proximal the inferior vena cava. In some embodiments, the cannula is a close fit to the anatomy of at least 90%, 95%, or more of the population.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 10, 2017
    Date of Patent: October 22, 2019
    Assignee: ABIOMED, INC.
    Inventor: Scott C. Corbett
  • Patent number: 10426879
    Abstract: A control circuit includes a pump shutdown module responsive to one or more inputs indicating at least from the group consisting of an operational error at the implantable blood pump and an adverse physiological state of a user of the implantable blood pump. The pump shutdown module ceases operation of the implantable blood pump in response to the one or more inputs. A pump restart module configured to resume operation of the implantable blood pump in response to a first pump restart input and a second pump restart input is included. A pump restart lockout module configured to initiate a pump lockout mode in response to a lockout input is included. The pump lockout mode prevents resumption of operation of the implantable blood pump in response to the first pump restart input and allows resumption of operation of the implantable blood pump in response to the second pump restart input.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 13, 2016
    Date of Patent: October 1, 2019
    Assignee: HeartWare, Inc.
    Inventor: Robert C. Farnan
  • Patent number: 10413284
    Abstract: The present disclosure relates to improved capabilities for stabilizing and regulating atrial pressure with a shunt in the atrial septum or a stent in the coronary sinus. The disclosure also includes sensing, monitoring, drug therapy and control capabilities to provide improved treatment of patients with heart disease and other cardiac related conditions.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 18, 2012
    Date of Patent: September 17, 2019
    Assignee: Corvia Medical, Inc.
    Inventors: Edward McNamara, Matthew J. Finch, Hiroatsu Sugimoto, Stephen Forcucci, Harith Rajagopalan