The present invention relates to a method for disconnecting two fluid-conducting line sections of a medical device which are detachably interconnected, wherein a first line section of the two line sections has at least partially an elastic property. The method comprises the steps of enclosing a fluid volume in the two line sections, generating a reduced pressure in the two line sections, as a result of which elastic deformation from a starting position into a tensioned position takes place in and/or on the first line section, wherein a fluid volume contained in the first line section is lower in the tensioned position than a fluid volume contained in the starting position, and detaching the connection of the line sections, wherein the fluid volume contained in the first line section in the tensioned position increases. Furthermore, the invention relates to a medical device which is configured to carry out a method of this kind.

The present invention relates to a method for disconnecting two fluid-conducting line sections of a medical device which are detachably interconnected, wherein a first line section of the two line sections has at least partially an elastic property. The method comprises the steps of enclosing a fluid volume in the two line sections, generating a reduced pressure in the two line sections, as a result of which elastic deformation from a starting position into a tensioned position takes place in and/or on the first line section, wherein a fluid volume contained in the first line section is lower in the tensioned position than a fluid volume contained in the starting position, and detaching the connection of the line sections, wherein the fluid volume contained in the first line section in the tensioned position increases. Furthermore, the invention relates to a medical device which is configured to carry out a method of this kind.

A vascular coupling device (10), comprising a first and a second coupling element (21, 22) wherein each one of said first and second coupling elements (21, 22) has an external surface (23′, 23″) facing an external side, a coupling surface (25′, 25″) facing a coupling side, a central opening (27′, 27″), and a first and a second tubular connecting element (31, 32). Each one of said first and second tubular connecting elements (31, 32) is arranged in a corresponding central opening (27′, 27″) of the first and second coupling elements (21, 22) respectively, and with second open ends (37, 38) protruding through said central openings (27′, 27″) on said external side of each of said first and second coupling elements (21, 22). The first and second coupling elements (21, 22) being removably connected to each other into a locked configuration, or disconnected from each other into an unlocked configuration by means of a first and second locking structure (41, 42) being arranged on a centerline A and opposite to each other on an outer perimeter of said vascular coupling device (10). The vascular device further comprises a fail-safe arrangement comprising first and second cut-in portions (91, 92) arranged on said first coupling element (21) configured to receive first and second projecting elements (93, 94) arranged on said second coupling element (22), thereby preventing erroneous connection of said first and second coupling elements (21, 22) to each other.

A vascular coupling device (10), comprising a first and a second coupling element (21, 22) wherein each one of said first and second coupling elements (21, 22) has an external surface (23′, 23″) facing an external side, a coupling surface (25′, 25″) facing a coupling side, a central opening (27′, 27″), and a first and a second tubular connecting element (31, 32). Each one of said first and second tubular connecting elements (31, 32) is arranged in a corresponding central opening (27′, 27″) of the first and second coupling elements (21, 22) respectively, and with second open ends (37, 38) protruding through said central openings (27′, 27″) on said external side of each of said first and second coupling elements (21, 22). The first and second coupling elements (21, 22) being removably connected to each other into a locked configuration, or disconnected from each other into an unlocked configuration by means of a first and second locking structure (41, 42) being arranged on a centerline A and opposite to each other on an outer perimeter of said vascular coupling device (10). The vascular device further comprises a fail-safe arrangement comprising first and second cut-in portions (91, 92) arranged on said first coupling element (21) configured to receive first and second projecting elements (93, 94) arranged on said second coupling element (22), thereby preventing erroneous connection of said first and second coupling elements (21, 22) to each other.

A heart support device for circulatory assistance is disclosed. The device (2) comprises a chamber body (4) comprising an outer wall and defining an internal volume (Vx) configured to receive a volume of fluid. The chamber body (4) comprises an outlet opening (8) at its proximal end (4a), the outlet opening (8) being in fluid communication with an exterior volume in which the chamber body (4) is disposed. The outer wall of the chamber body (4) is configured to alternately collapse and expand between a first configuration in which the internal volume V.sub.x=V.sub.1 and a second configuration in which the internal volume V.sub.x=V.sub.2, wherein Vi is larger than V.sub.2, and thereby pump the fluid through the outlet opening (8). The cross-sectional internal diameter of the outlet opening (8) is less than a maximum cross-sectional internal diameter of the chamber body (4).

A pump-valving assembly for a pulsatile fluid pump includes a pumping chamber, an inlet port, and an outlet port. The pump-valving assembly further includes an inlet ball check-valve assembly, first and second tapered tracts disposed between the inlet port and the pumping chamber, an outlet ball check-valve assembly, and third and fourth tapered tracts disposed between the pumping chamber and outlet port. The first tapered tract expands in cross sectional area from the inlet port to the inlet ball check valve assembly, and the second tapered tract decreases in cross sectional area from the inlet ball check valve assembly to the chamber. The third tapered tract expands in cross sectional area from the chamber to the outlet ball check valve assembly and the fourth tapered tract decreases in cross sectional area from the outlet ball check valve assembly to the outlet port.

A pump-valving assembly for a pulsatile fluid pump includes a pumping chamber, an inlet port, and an outlet port. The pump-valving assembly further includes an inlet ball check-valve assembly, first and second tapered tracts disposed between the inlet port and the pumping chamber, an outlet ball check-valve assembly, and third and fourth tapered tracts disposed between the pumping chamber and outlet port. The first tapered tract expands in cross sectional area from the inlet port to the inlet ball check valve assembly, and the second tapered tract decreases in cross sectional area from the inlet ball check valve assembly to the chamber. The third tapered tract expands in cross sectional area from the chamber to the outlet ball check valve assembly and the fourth tapered tract decreases in cross sectional area from the outlet ball check valve assembly to the outlet port.

A pump-valving assembly for a pulsatile fluid pump includes a pumping chamber, an inlet port, and an outlet port. The pump-valving assembly further includes an inlet ball check-valve assembly, first and second tapered tracts disposed between the inlet port and the pumping chamber, an outlet ball check-valve assembly, and third and fourth tapered tracts disposed between the pumping chamber and outlet port. The first tapered tract expands in cross sectional area from the inlet port to the inlet ball check valve assembly, and the second tapered tract decreases in cross sectional area from the inlet ball check valve assembly to the chamber. The third tapered tract expands in cross sectional area from the chamber to the outlet ball check valve assembly and the fourth tapered tract decreases in cross sectional area from the outlet ball check valve assembly to the outlet port.

A pump-valving assembly for a pulsatile fluid pump includes a pumping chamber, an inlet port, and an outlet port. The pump-valving assembly further includes an inlet ball check-valve assembly, first and second tapered tracts disposed between the inlet port and the pumping chamber, an outlet ball check-valve assembly, and third and fourth tapered tracts disposed between the pumping chamber and outlet port. The first tapered tract expands in cross sectional area from the inlet port to the inlet ball check valve assembly, and the second tapered tract decreases in cross sectional area from the inlet ball check valve assembly to the chamber. The third tapered tract expands in cross sectional area from the chamber to the outlet ball check valve assembly and the fourth tapered tract decreases in cross sectional area from the outlet ball check valve assembly to the outlet port.

Described herein are devices and methods for pumping fluids. The devices may be implanted within a patient or located external to the body of the patient. When employed externally, the devices may be used to deliver various drugs or support hemodialysis, in addition to pumping blood and maintaining blood circulation. The implantable devices may be used in patients in need of circulatory assistance or a replacement heart. Both the implantable and external pump devices may linearly reciprocate a shuttle within a housing to simultaneously move blood into and out of the housing, and rotate the shuttle to selectively direct the movement of fluid into and out of a plurality of ports in the housing.