An apparatus is disclosed including: an intracardiac pump device having a path for a guidewire extending through the pump device from a first opening to a second opening; and a lumen which extends from a first end located outside of the pump device, into the pump device through the first opening in the pump device, along the path for the guidewire, out of the pump device through the second opening, and to a second end located outside of the pump device. The lumen is configured to receive the guidewire such that when the guidewire passes through the lumen from the first end to the second end, the guidewire is positioned along the path.

A device for reducing pressure within a lumen includes a reservoir structured for holding a fluid therein, an injection port in fluid communication with the reservoir, a compliant body structured to expand and contract upon changes in pressure, and a conduit extending between and fluidly coupling the reservoir and the compliant body. The fluid may be a compressible or a noncompressible fluid.

An implantable pump system can deliver blood within the body of a patient, with a blood pump which delivers a fluid in an axial direction. The blood pump can include a rotatingly drivable rotor as well as a pump casing surrounding the rotor, as well as a support tube, in which the pump casing is arranged and held, wherein an annular gap is formed between the support tube and the pump casing. An almost physiological blood flow is rendered possible in this manner, by way of the combination of a flow through the pump casing on the one hand, and the annular gap on the other hand.

A cardiac assist device is provided. The cardiac assist device may comprise a structure surrounding at least a portion of a heart. The cardiac assist device may comprise an inner cup enclosing at least a portion of the structure. The cardiac assist device may comprise an outer cup enclosing at least a portion of the inner cup. The outer cup may comprise an opening. Gas may be conducted into a space between the outer cup and the inner cup, using a pump, to cause a first motion of the structure, associated with a first rotation of a first portion of the heart in a first direction. The gas may be conducted from the space to outside of the outer cup, using the pump, to cause a second motion of the structure, associated with a second rotation of the first portion of the heart in a second direction.

A catheter pump is disclosed herein. The catheter pump can include a catheter assembly that comprises a drive shaft and an impeller coupled to a distal end of the drive shaft. A driven assembly can be coupled to a proximal end of the drive shaft within a driven assembly housing. The catheter pump can also include a drive system that comprises a motor and a drive magnet coupled to an output shaft of the motor. The drive system can include a drive assembly housing having at least one magnet therein. Further, a securement device can be configured to prevent disengagement of the driven assembly housing from the drive assembly housing during operation of the pump.

An apparatus is disclosed including: an intracardiac pump device having a path for a guidewire extending through the pump device from a first opening to a second opening; and a lumen which extends from a first end located outside of the pump device, into the pump device through the first opening in the pump device, along the path for the guidewire, out of the pump device through the second opening, and to a second end located outside of the pump device. The lumen is configured to receive the guidewire such that when the guidewire passes through the lumen from the first end to the second end, the guidewire is positioned along the path.

A fluid delivery device comprises a hydraulic pump chamber having a hydraulic fluid. A fluid reservoir is coupled to the hydraulic pump chamber and is configured to contain a fluid deliverable to a patient. A first actuator is coupled to the hydraulic pump chamber and is configured to pressurize the hydraulic pump chamber and configured to transfer energy through the hydraulic pump chamber to the fluid reservoir. A second actuator is coupled to the hydraulic pump chamber and is configured to pressurize the hydraulic pump chamber and configured to transfer energy through the hydraulic pump chamber to the fluid reservoir.

An artificial heart for use in a human recipient includes a housing within which a quartet of turbine pump segments are operative. The quartet of turbine pump segments is configured to provide a pair of redundant input and output turbine pump segment pairs each input and output pair being coupled by a curved passage providing a redundancy which, in turn, enhances the safety factor provided by the artificial heart. A controller is powered by a rechargeable battery and is operative to apply appropriate drive signals to the motor drives of the turbine pump segments. The battery may be implanted along with the controller to avoid the need for any external connections to the artificial heart. An inductively coupled battery charger for use outside the recipient's body is positioned proximate the battery charger to provide inductively coupled charging for use in driving the artificial heart.

A cardiac assist device is provided. The cardiac assist device may comprise a structure surrounding at least a portion of a heart. The cardiac assist device may comprise an inner cup enclosing at least a portion of the structure. The cardiac assist device may comprise an outer cup enclosing at least a portion of the inner cup. The outer cup may comprise an opening. Gas may be conducted into a space between the outer cup and the inner cup, using a pump, to cause a first motion of the structure, associated with a first rotation of a first portion of the heart in a first direction. The gas may be conducted from the space to outside of the outer cup, using the pump, to cause a second motion of the structure, associated with a second rotation of the first portion of the heart in a second direction.

A fluid delivery device comprises a hydraulic pump chamber having a hydraulic fluid. A fluid reservoir is coupled to the hydraulic pump chamber and is configured to contain a fluid deliverable to a patient. A first actuator is coupled to the hydraulic pump chamber and is configured to pressurize the hydraulic pump chamber and configured to transfer energy through the hydraulic pump chamber to the fluid reservoir. A second actuator is coupled to the hydraulic pump chamber and is configured to pressurize the hydraulic pump chamber and configured to transfer energy through the hydraulic pump chamber to the fluid reservoir.