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.

A system for minimizing misalignment notifications for a TETS having an implantable blood pump, an external controller having a power source and a processing circuitry, a transmission coil in communication with the external controller, a receiving coil configured for transcutaneous inductive communication with the transmission coil, and an implantable controller in communication with the receiving coil and the implantable blood pump. The implantable controller having a power source configured to receive power from the receiving coil. The processing circuitry may be configured to: operate in a first mode where an alert is generated when a power efficiency transfer between the transmission coil and the receiving coil is below a first predetermined threshold; and operate in a second mode where the alert is only generated when the power remaining in the power source for the implantable controller is below a first predetermined power source threshold.

Apparatus and methods are described including a ventricular assist device that includes an impeller disposed within a frame and configured to pump blood through a pump-outlet tube and out of one of more blood outlet openings. The frame includes an inner lining. A protective braid is disposed over a distal portion of the frame and configured to block structures from the subject's left ventricle from entering into the frame. A proximal end of the protective braid is embedded between the pump-outlet tube and the inner lining, such that, during crimping of the frame, the braid becomes crimped with the pump-outlet tube and the inner lining, thereby preventing the braid from moving with respect to pump-outlet tube or the inner lining. Other applications are also described.

Apparatus and methods are described including a ventricular assist device that includes an impeller disposed within a frame and configured to pump blood through a pump-outlet tube and out of one of more blood outlet openings. The frame includes an inner lining. A protective braid is disposed over a distal portion of the frame and configured to block structures from the subject's left ventricle from entering into the frame. A proximal end of the protective braid is embedded between the pump-outlet tube and the inner lining, such that, during crimping of the frame, the braid becomes crimped with the pump-outlet tube and the inner lining, thereby preventing the braid from moving with respect to pump-outlet tube or the inner lining. Other applications are also described.

A controller for an implantable blood pump including processing circuitry in communication with the implantable blood pump and configured to generate at least one preventative alert.

A controller for an implantable blood pump including processing circuitry in communication with the implantable blood pump and configured to generate at least one preventative alert.

A blood pump includes an impeller; a drive shaft coupled to the impeller and configured to rotate with the impeller; a motor configured to drive the impeller; and a bearing assembly disposed adjacent the motor and configured to receive an end of the drive shaft. The bearing assembly includes a bearing, where the end of the drive shaft is at least partially rounded, and the where the bearing includes a concave depression defined in a first side of the bearing, where the depression is configured to receive the end of the drive shaft. The bearing assembly may include a lubricant chamber configured to hold a lubricant.

A blood pump includes an impeller; a drive shaft coupled to the impeller and configured to rotate with the impeller; a motor configured to drive the impeller; and a bearing assembly disposed adjacent the motor and configured to receive an end of the drive shaft. The bearing assembly includes a bearing, where the end of the drive shaft is at least partially rounded, and the where the bearing includes a concave depression defined in a first side of the bearing, where the depression is configured to receive the end of the drive shaft. The bearing assembly may include a lubricant chamber configured to hold a lubricant.

A heart support system is provided includes a control unit and sound-generating devices, said control unit configured to detect and process alarm events and to carry out control tasks in the heart support system. The heart support system further includes a storage device configured to store one or more defined alarm signal time curves and one or more alarm priorities. Each alarm signal time curve and each alarm priority is assigned to an alarm event. A sound-generation controller is configured such that when an alarm event is detected, the controller overlays a volume time curve onto the alarm signal time curve assigned to the alarm event in the storage device, said volume time curve based on the alarm priority assigned to the respective alarm event in the storage device and the length of time since the detection of the alarm event.

A heart support system is provided includes a control unit and sound-generating devices, said control unit configured to detect and process alarm events and to carry out control tasks in the heart support system. The heart support system further includes a storage device configured to store one or more defined alarm signal time curves and one or more alarm priorities. Each alarm signal time curve and each alarm priority is assigned to an alarm event. A sound-generation controller is configured such that when an alarm event is detected, the controller overlays a volume time curve onto the alarm signal time curve assigned to the alarm event in the storage device, said volume time curve based on the alarm priority assigned to the respective alarm event in the storage device and the length of time since the detection of the alarm event.