Abstract: A signal processing circuit for controlling operation of an implanted ventricular assist device comprising an input module for receiving one or more signals of a patient from one or more sensors. A processor for processing the received signals is included, the processor configured to compare a total blood output on a left side of the patient's heart with a total blood output on a right side of the patient's heart; determine at least one from the group consisting of the presence of fluid imbalance between the left and right sides of the patient's heart and the absence of fluid imbalance between the left and right sides of the patient's heart based on the comparison; and when the presence of fluid imbalance is determined, control the implanted ventricular device to restore fluid balance between the left and right sides of the patient's heart.

Abstract: A blood pump system is implantable in a patient for ventricular support. A pumping chamber has an inlet for receiving blood from a ventricle of the patient. An impeller is received in the pumping chamber. A motor is coupled to the impeller for driving rotation of the impeller. A motor controller is provided for tracking systolic and diastolic phases of a cardiac cycle of the patient and supplying a variable voltage signal to the motor in a variable speed mode to produce a variable impeller speed linked to the cardiac cycle. The impeller speed comprises a ramping up to an elevated speed during the diastolic phase in order to reduce a load on the ventricle at the beginning of the systolic phase.

Abstract: A method of estimating the blood flow rate of a heart ventricle assist device which is positioned externally of, or implanted in, a patient. The assist device comprises a blood pump having a rapidly rotating, electrically powered impeller, and comprises briefly interrupting power to the impeller to cause its rotation to slow. From this, blood viscosity can be estimated, which viscosity is used to obtain real time, estimated blood flow rates and pressure heads. Apparatus for accomplishing this is disclosed.

Abstract: A ventricular assist device includes a pump such as an axial flow pump, an outflow cannula connected to the outlet of the pump, and an anchor element. The anchor element is physically connected to the pump, as by an elongate element. The pump is implanted within the left ventricle with the outflow cannula projecting through the aortic valve but desirably terminating short of the aortic arch. The anchor element is fixed to the wall of the heart near the apex of the heart so that the anchor element holds the pump and outflow cannula in position.

Abstract: A method of estimating the blood flow rate of a heart ventricle assist device which is positioned externally of, or implanted in, a patient. The assist device comprises a blood pump having a rapidly rotating, electrically powered impeller, and comprises briefly interrupting power to the impeller to cause its rotation to slow. From this, blood viscosity can be estimated, which viscosity is used to obtain real time, estimated blood flow rates and pressure heads. Apparatus for accomplishing this is disclosed.

Abstract: A demand responsive physiological control system for use with a rotary blood pump; said system including a pump controller which is capable of controlling pump speed of said pump; said system further including a physiological controller, and wherein said physiological controller is adapted to analyse input data relating to physiological condition of a user of said pump; and wherein said physiological controller determines appropriate pumping speed and sends a speed control signal to said pump controller to adjust pump speed; said system further including a physiological state detector which provides said input data indicative of at least one physiological state of said user, in use, to said physiological controller.

Abstract: A method of estimating the blood flow rate of a heart ventricle assist device which is positioned externally of, or implanted in, a patient. The assist device comprises a blood pump having a rapidly rotating, electrically powered impeller, and comprises briefly interrupting power to the impeller to cause its rotation to slow. From this, blood viscosity can be estimated, which viscosity is used to obtain real time, estimated blood flow rates and pressure heads. Apparatus for accomplishing this is disclosed.

Abstract: According to the invention the rotary pump consists of an external gear (13) with internal teeth (16) in the form of a squirrel cage, and an internal gear (9), housed in an off-centre manner in the interior of said external gear (13) and fitted with external teeth (9D) intermeshing with said internal teeth (16) and consisting of a number of inferior teeth of a unit with the number of teeth of the later. The rotation means of said external teeth (13) comprise at least a bearing (11, 12) centrally laid out in a flange end (14,15) of said aforementioned external gear (13) and the aforementioned external gear (13) is at least partly dismantled in order to introduce said internal gear (9).

Abstract: A method of estimating the blood flow rate of a heart ventricle assist device which is positioned externally of, or implanted in, a patient. The assist device comprises a blood pump having a rapidly rotating, electrically powered impeller, and comprises briefly interrupting power to the impeller to cause its rotation to slow. From this, blood viscosity can be estimated, which viscosity is used to obtain real time, estimated blood flow rates and pressure heads.

Abstract: A control system for a continuous flow rotary blood pump is provided. A normal operating range of the blood pump is established. The normal operating range may comprise a normal pump flow range and a normal pressure head range. A target rotational speed of the pump is set in accordance with the normal operating range. A current operating condition of the blood pump is determined. The current operating condition may comprise a current pump flow, a current pressure head, and a current rotational speed of the pump. The current operating condition is compared with the normal operating range. An appropriate control algorithm is selected from a plurality of available control algorithms based on the comparison. The target rotational speed of the pump is adjusted using the selected control algorithm to maintain or recover the normal operating range.

Abstract: An intracavity artificial ventricle (IAV), which comprises a mechanic circulatory assistance device, designed to be assembled inside the remaining and preserved muscular mass of a natural ventricle in terminal stage. Said design allows the use of the space available inside the anterior mediastinum, and preserves the irrigation and the function of the contralateral ventricle.