Apparatus and methods are described for manufacturing a housing for an impeller of a blood pump. A frame is treated in order to enhance bonding between an inner surface of the frame and an inner lining. Subsequently, the inner lining is coupled to the inner surface of the frame along at least a portion of a central cylindrical portion of the frame. Subsequent to coupling the inner lining to the inner surface of the frame along at least a portion of the central cylindrical portion of the frame, a portion of an elongate tube is placed around at least a portion of the frame. While heating the inner lining, the frame, and the portion of the elongate tube, pressure is applied such as to cause the portion of the elongate tube to become coupled to the frame. Other applications are also described.

Apparatus and methods are described for manufacturing a housing for an impeller of a blood pump. A mandrel is placed inside an inner lining, with a central cylindrical portion of a frame disposed around the inner lining, the mandrel being shorter than a length of the inner lining. A portion of an elongate tube is placed around at least a portion of the frame. The inner lining, the frame and the portion of the elongate tube are heated, via the mandrel, and, while heating the inner lining, the frame, and the portion of the elongate tube, pressure is applied from outside the portion of the elongate tube, such as to cause the portion of the elongate tube to become coupled to the frame. Other applications are also described.

The invention relates to a pressure sensor (100) comprising: a biocompatible housing (110), a biocompatible flexible membrane (120) covering an open portion in the housing (110), a pressure transferring medium, an attachment portion (130), an electrical connection (140), and a pressure sensitive sensor (150).

The invention relates to a pressure sensor (100) comprising: a biocompatible housing (110), a biocompatible flexible membrane (120) covering an open portion in the housing (110), a pressure transferring medium, an attachment portion (130), an electrical connection (140), and a pressure sensitive sensor (150).

The invention relates to a controller unit (100) and method for controlling a cardiac prosthesis (200). The prosthesis comprising: at least one pump portion (202, 203, 602, 702); an inlet (210, 610, 710) connected to said at least one pump portion; an outlet (213, 613, 713) connected to said at least one pump portion; a pressure sensor (231; 232) configured to measure pressure of a fluid flowing from the inlet to the outlet; a pump actuator (221, 222) configured to induce the flow of the fluid flow. The controller unit further comprises a memory and a processing unit, wherein the controller unit is configured to: obtain a pressure value from the pressure sensor, obtain a desired value for the pressure of the fluid flowing into the pump, calculate an error signal equal to the difference of desired value for the pressure and the measured pressure, and control the output of the pump such that the measured pressure is near or equal to the desired pressure, by controlling a pump stroke rate and/or a pump stroke volume.

An assembly for an extracorporeal life support system with a suction line that features a venous cannula and a pressure line that features an arterial cannula furthermore includes a pump that is arranged between the suction line and the pressure line. This assembly has a discharge line with a discharge cannula, wherein the discharge cannula is longer than the arterial cannula, and wherein the discharge line is connected to the suction line or the pressure line.

A model of flow through a left ventricular assist device (LVAD) can be used for preoperative planning of implantation of the LVAD into a patient and/or optimization of the LVAD after implantation into the patient are described. At least one imaging data set related to a patient and at least one physiological data set related to the patient can be received. An ideal parameter related to the LVAD can be determined based on the at least one imaging data set related to the patient, the at least one physiological data set related to the patient using a model of circulation in a large spatial region of the patient's body and a three-dimensional anatomical model of at least one component of the region of the patient's body and at least one component of the LVAD. Flow patterns within the three-dimensional anatomical model are calculated using computational fluid dynamics.

An arterial cannula connects to a heart-lung machine for supplying a patient with oxygen-rich blood and includes a tubular body having a front end region for positioning at the aortic arch, a main region, and a rear end region for connection to the supply side. The length of the tubular body is dimensioned so that the cannula can be placed at the femoral artery and extends to the aortic arch. The tubular body is flexible and includes a lumen, and perforations in the front end region. The front end region is pre-curved, following the shape of the aortic arch. An insertion aid is located inside the tubular body for placing the cannula and is slidable into or withdrawable from the tubular body after the cannula has been placed. The curvature of the front end region adjusts automatically after the cannula is placed and the insertion aid withdrawn.

A pump for fluids includes a rotor sub-assembly, a tubing pressure block, an inlet guide, an outlet guide, and a tubing guard. The rotor sub-assembly includes at least one roller. The tubing pressure block includes a raceway and at least one projection. The tubing pressure block is movable between a first position and a second position. The inlet guide includes an inlet tubing channel and is disposed proximate to a first side of the tubing pressure block. The outlet guide includes an outlet tubing channel and is disposed proximate to a second side of the tubing pressure block. The tubing guard is configured to engage with the inlet guide and the outlet guide when the tubing guard is in a closed position and is configured to expose the rotor sub-assembly, the tubing pressure block, the inlet guide, and the outlet guide when in an open position.

Apparatus and methods are described including a left-ventricular assist device that includes an impeller (50) and a frame (34) disposed around the impeller (50). The frame (34) includes strut junctions (33) at a proximal end of the frame, the strut junctions (33) being configured to be maintained in open states, during assembly of the left ventricular assist device, to facilitate insertion of the impeller (50) into the frame (34). A securing element (117) holds the struts junctions in closed states, subsequent to the insertion of the impeller (50) into the frame (34). A pump-outlet tube (24) extends to a distal end of the frame (34) and defines one or more lateral blood inlet openings (108) that are configured to allow blood to flow from the subject's left ventricle into the pump-outlet tube (24). Other applications are also described.