The present invention relates to a catheter that minimizes or eliminates the recirculation of oxygenated blood. The catheter of the present invention can be used to drain blood from multiple points in the patient, namely the superior vena cava, right atrium, and the right ventricle, while returning blood to the patient's pulmonary artery. Further, the catheter of the present invention is less likely to be moved or dislodged than catheters currently available in the art, thus making the catheter particularly useful for portable lung assist devices. The present invention also relates to methods for inserting the catheter into the patient and using the catheter with a lung assist device.

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. The apparatus has a first cardiac assist device and a second cardiac assist device tuned to maximize blood flow to the body of the patient, while resting the heart so the heart may recover function. Alternatively, the sensor monitors the heart based on admittance while the cardiac assist device. Alternatively, the sensor monitors the heart based on impedance.

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. The apparatus has a first cardiac assist device and a second cardiac assist device tuned to maximize blood flow to the body of the patient, while resting the heart so the heart may recover function. Alternatively, the sensor monitors the heart based on admittance while the cardiac assist device. Alternatively, the sensor monitors the heart based on impedance.

A diaphragm assembly for a pulsatile fluid pump includes an edge-mounted flexible diaphragm, the diaphragm configured for operation cyclically between a diastole mode and a systole mode. The diaphragm assembly further includes a systolic distribution brace having an interior wall configured to cup a portion of the outside surface of the diaphragm, and a diastolic plate, embedded in the diaphragm, mechanically coupled to a portion of the inside surface of the diaphragm. In the course of the systole mode, force is applied across the maximum radial extent of the systolic distribution brace, so as to impart tension in the diaphragm around the periphery of the systolic distribution brace. In the course of the diastole mode, force is applied across the maximum radial extent of the diastolic plate, so as to impart tension in the diaphragm around the diastolic plate.

A control system for a perfusion system (1), the control system being configured to control a plurality of blood flow rates in the perfusion system during a weaning phase. The perfusion system comprises: a first blood line (26) in which blood is permitted to flow at a first flow rate; a second blood line (34) in which blood is permitted to flow at a second flow rate; an arterial blood line (22) in which blood is permitted to flow at an arterial flow rate; and an arterial pump (20) configured to circulate blood at the arterial flow rate in the arterial blood line. The control system comprises a controller configured to determine the first flow rate and the second flow rate and to process the first and second flow rates to determine a desired arterial flow rate. The controller is configured to operate in a first mode in which the controller modulates operation of the arterial pump (20) to adjust the arterial flow rate so that the arterial flow rate matches the desired arterial flow rate.

A control system for a perfusion system (1), the control system being configured to control a plurality of blood flow rates in the perfusion system during a weaning phase. The perfusion system comprises: a first blood line (26) in which blood is permitted to flow at a first flow rate; a second blood line (34) in which blood is permitted to flow at a second flow rate; an arterial blood line (22) in which blood is permitted to flow at an arterial flow rate; and an arterial pump (20) configured to circulate blood at the arterial flow rate in the arterial blood line. The control system comprises a controller configured to determine the first flow rate and the second flow rate and to process the first and second flow rates to determine a desired arterial flow rate. The controller is configured to operate in a first mode in which the controller modulates operation of the arterial pump (20) to adjust the arterial flow rate so that the arterial flow rate matches the desired arterial flow rate.

A controller for a blood pump, in particular a catheter-based intravascular blood pump, configured to utilize detected or determined aortic pressures and left ventricular pressures in order to calculate a coupling factor, which is then used to determine how to adjust the rotational speed of the blood pump, such as when the blood pump is used in conjunction with ECMO devices.

Described is an endovascular cannula (L1b, L2b) for defining a border of a transport volume (TrV) for an in-vivo fluid transport, the cannula (L1b, L2b) comprising:—a lumen portion (LP) that extends between a proximal end of the cannula (L1b, L2b) and a distal end of the cannula (L1b, L2b), the lumen portion (LP) defining an inner lumen, and—an expandable arrangement that has a non-expanded state and an expanded state, wherein the expandable arrangement can be switched from the non-expanded state to the expanded state, wherein in the expanded state the expandable arrangement is adapted to define at least one border of the transport volume (TrV), and wherein the border is configured to separate the transport volume from a body fluid circuit (BC).

Described is an endovascular cannula (L1b, L2b) for defining a border of a transport volume (TrV) for an in-vivo fluid transport, the cannula (L1b, L2b) comprising:—a lumen portion (LP) that extends between a proximal end of the cannula (L1b, L2b) and a distal end of the cannula (L1b, L2b), the lumen portion (LP) defining an inner lumen, and—an expandable arrangement that has a non-expanded state and an expanded state, wherein the expandable arrangement can be switched from the non-expanded state to the expanded state, wherein in the expanded state the expandable arrangement is adapted to define at least one border of the transport volume (TrV), and wherein the border is configured to separate the transport volume from a body fluid circuit (BC).

A heat exchanger for a blood circulation circuit includes a hollow fiber membrane layer having a plurality of laminated hollow fiber membranes 31. Each of the hollow fiber membranes 31 has a barrier layer 5 having a hydrogen peroxide barrier property, and the barrier layer 5 has an oxygen permeability coefficient of 6 cc.Math.cm/m.sup.2.Math.24 h/atm or less at 25° C.