A system or device for isolating pulmonary pressure from left atrial pressure and/or improving cardiac output. The device may be an implantable cardiac device comprising an intravascular shield. The system may comprise an intravascular shield and a trans-septal delivery sheath. The intravascular shield can be sized and configured to be positioned in a pulmonary vein or a left atrium to restrict fluid flow from the left atrium through one or more pulmonary veins to the lungs while allowing fluid flow from the lungs through the one or more pulmonary veins to the left atrium. The trans-septal delivery sheath can be configured to contain the intravascular shield in a collapsed configuration and deliver the intravascular shield to the left atrium.

An introducer sheath for the insertion of a medical device into a blood vessel having an expandable sheath. The sheath has a length, a thickness, and proximal and distal ends. The expandable sheath has a frame extending longitudinally between the proximal and the distal ends, and having an exterior surface and an interior surface that forms an interior lumen along the length of the frame. The frame is configured to achieve an expanded state and a contracted state, the expanded state forming an expanded cross-section in the lumen for passing a medical device therethrough. The frame has a smooth coating about the exterior surface and protrusions extending into the lumen along the interior surface. The introducer sheath can be introduced into a patient in the contracted state, with the distal end of the introducer sheath prevented from moving in the proximal direction by an abutment against a dilator end surface.

An introducer sheath for the insertion of a medical device into a blood vessel having an expandable sheath. The sheath has a length, a thickness, and proximal and distal ends. The expandable sheath has a frame extending longitudinally between the proximal and the distal ends, and having an exterior surface and an interior surface that forms an interior lumen along the length of the frame. The frame is configured to achieve an expanded state and a contracted state, the expanded state forming an expanded cross-section in the lumen for passing a medical device therethrough. The frame has a smooth coating about the exterior surface and protrusions extending into the lumen along the interior surface. The introducer sheath can be introduced into a patient in the contracted state, with the distal end of the introducer sheath prevented from moving in the proximal direction by an abutment against a dilator end surface.

Apparatus is provided for treating heart failure, the apparatus including one or more propeller blades and a controller, which is configured to rotate the one or more propeller blades to produce continuous non-pulsatile blood flow not synchronized with a cardiac cycle of a subject. An intra-atrial anchor includes a stent surrounding the one or more propeller blades. The intra-atrial anchor is coupled to the one or more propeller blades and configured to be anchored in a left atrium of the subject so as to position the one or more propeller blades in the left atrium oriented such that the one or more propeller blades, when rotated by the controller, draw blood from the left atrium and expel the blood in the left atrium toward a mitral valve, thereby increasing atrial pressure above the mitral valve. Other embodiments are also described.

The present technology relates to interatrial shunting systems and methods. In some embodiments, the present technology includes interatrial shunting systems that include a shunting element having a lumen extending therethrough that is configured to fluidly couple the left atrium and the right atrium when the shunting element is implanted in a patient. The system can also include an energy receiving component for receiving energy from an energy source positioned external to the body, an energy storage component for storing the received energy, and/or a flow control mechanism for adjusting a geometry of the lumen.

The present technology relates to interatrial shunting systems and methods. In some embodiments, the present technology includes interatrial shunting systems that include a shunting element having a lumen extending therethrough that is configured to fluidly couple the left atrium and the right atrium when the shunting element is implanted in a patient. The system can also include an energy receiving component for receiving energy from an energy source positioned external to the body, an energy storage component for storing the received energy, and/or a flow control mechanism for adjusting a geometry of the lumen.

Systems, devices and methods are provided for supporting cardiac function. One system comprises an implantable intracardiac device comprising a motor and a pump, a transmitting resonator comprising a magnetic coil and configured to transmit a first level of power through an outer skin surface of the patient and a receiving resonator configured for implantation within the patient, comprising a magnetic coil and configured to transmit a second level of power to the motor within the implanted device. A controller is coupled to the transmitting resonator and configured to control the resonators and other parameters in the system such that the second level of power remains at or above a threshold level, thereby ensuring that the pump will continuously pump blood through the heart at a sufficient rate regardless of any changes in the system, such as power loss due to transmission inefficiencies and/or changes in the relative positions between the transmitting and receiving coils.

A control device for a heart pump, comprising a device for establishing the end-diastolic filling pressure in a ventricle and a device for associating a delivery rate of the pump, in particular a pump speed or an electric pump capacity, with the established end-diastolic filling pressure. By taking into account the end-diastolic filling pressure, a robust operating option of the heart pump, similar to the physio-logical control, is created.

A control device for a heart pump, comprising a device for establishing the end-diastolic filling pressure in a ventricle and a device for associating a delivery rate of the pump, in particular a pump speed or an electric pump capacity, with the established end-diastolic filling pressure. By taking into account the end-diastolic filling pressure, a robust operating option of the heart pump, similar to the physio-logical control, is created.

An apparatus for a heart of a patient having a cardiac assist device adapted to be implanted into the patient to assist the heart with pumping blood. The apparatus has a sensor adapted to be implanted into the patient. The sensor in communication with the cardiac assist device and the heart which measures native volume of the heart. Alternatively, the sensor monitors the heart based on admittance while the cardiac assist device. Alternatively, the sensor monitors the heart based on impedance.