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.

Methods and devices that prevent stasis in the LAA by either increasing the flow through the LAA or by closing off or sealing the LAA. Increasing the flow is accomplished through shunts, flow diverters, agitators, or by increasing the size of the ostium. Closing off the LAA is accomplished using seals or by cinching the LAA.

Methods and devices that prevent stasis in the LAA by either increasing the flow through the LAA or by closing off or sealing the LAA. Increasing the flow is accomplished through shunts, flow diverters, agitators, or by increasing the size of the ostium. Closing off the LAA is accomplished using seals or by cinching the LAA.

A percutaneous circulatory support device includes an impeller housing and a primary impeller disposed within the impeller housing. The primary impeller is rotatable relative to the impeller housing to cause blood to flow through the percutaneous circulatory support device. The device further includes a counter impeller disposed within the impeller housing.

A percutaneous circulatory support device includes an impeller housing and a primary impeller disposed within the impeller housing. The primary impeller is rotatable relative to the impeller housing to cause blood to flow through the percutaneous circulatory support device. The device further includes a counter impeller disposed within the impeller housing.

An expandable introducer sheath with an interlock dilator. The present technology provides an expandable sheath with a step feature inside its distal opening, and a dilator with an interlock that includes a catch surface configured to engage with the step feature and resist further relative movement so that the body of the dilator is prevented from exiting the distal end of the expandable sheath. This interlocking engagement may allow the dilator to be used to extend and maintain tension on the expandable sheath during insertion into a patient, and then to be retracted from the expandable sheath by pulling the dilator in the opposite direction. The present technology also provides a dilator hub with a spring mechanism configured to achieve and maintain a desired tension on the expandable sheath and to prevent overextension of the expandable sheath when the dilator is being inserted into the expandable sheath.

An expandable introducer sheath with an interlock dilator. The present technology provides an expandable sheath with a step feature inside its distal opening, and a dilator with an interlock that includes a catch surface configured to engage with the step feature and resist further relative movement so that the body of the dilator is prevented from exiting the distal end of the expandable sheath. This interlocking engagement may allow the dilator to be used to extend and maintain tension on the expandable sheath during insertion into a patient, and then to be retracted from the expandable sheath by pulling the dilator in the opposite direction. The present technology also provides a dilator hub with a spring mechanism configured to achieve and maintain a desired tension on the expandable sheath and to prevent overextension of the expandable sheath when the dilator is being inserted into the expandable sheath.

Improvements to intracardiac devices such as intracardiac blood pump assemblies, and associated methods. In one example, the present technology includes systems and methods for pacing the heart, and/or performing cardiac ablation using electrodes mounted on a portion of the intracardiac device. In another example, the present technology includes systems and methods for detecting mural thrombi in a patient's heart using electrical sensors or ultrasonic phased arrays mounted on the intracardiac device. In another example, the present technology includes systems and methods for detecting tissue changes and reactions in heart tissue during treatment using one or more temperature sensors. In another example, the present technology includes an improved distal tip for use with an intracardiac device. In another example, the present technology includes systems and methods for maintaining an intracardiac device in a desired position within a patient's heart using magnets or ultrasonic phased arrays mounted on the intracardiac device.

Improvements to intracardiac devices such as intracardiac blood pump assemblies, and associated methods. In one example, the present technology includes systems and methods for pacing the heart, and/or performing cardiac ablation using electrodes mounted on a portion of the intracardiac device. In another example, the present technology includes systems and methods for detecting mural thrombi in a patient's heart using electrical sensors or ultrasonic phased arrays mounted on the intracardiac device. In another example, the present technology includes systems and methods for detecting tissue changes and reactions in heart tissue during treatment using one or more temperature sensors. In another example, the present technology includes an improved distal tip for use with an intracardiac device. In another example, the present technology includes systems and methods for maintaining an intracardiac device in a desired position within a patient's heart using magnets or ultrasonic phased arrays mounted on the intracardiac device.

An intravascular blood pump having a drive section (11), a catheter (14) fastened to the drive section proximally and a pump section (12) fastened to the drive section distally possesses an electric motor (21) whose motor shaft (25) is mounted in the drive section (11) with two radial sliding bearings (27, 31) and an axial sliding bearing (40). During operation, purge fluid is conveyed through the bearing gap of the axial sliding bearing (40) and further through the radial sliding bearing (31) at the distal end of the drive section (11). The purge fluid is highly viscous, for example 20% glucose solution.