Various embodiments of a ventricular assist system and a method of using such system are disclosed. The system includes a pump adapted to be connected to a heart of a patient, an outflow cannula including a first end adapted to be connected to an outlet of the pump and a second end adapted to be connected to an artery of the patient, and an electrode disposed on an outer surface of the outflow cannula and adapted to be disposed adjacent to an exterior wall of the heart. The system further includes a controller electrically connected to the pump and the electrode, where the controller is adapted to provide a pacing signal to the electrode.

An impeller and a ventricular assist device are provided. The impeller comprises a hub and at least one blade fixed on an outer periphery of the hub; the hub comprises an inlet end and an outlet end; the blade comprises an action surface, an contour line of the action surface comprises an outer edge profile line away from the hub, an endpoint of the outer edge profile line close to the inlet end is a start point of the profile line, and an endpoint of the outer edge profile line close to the outlet end is an end point of the profile line; the outer edge profile line is a smooth space curve, and a curvature of the outer edge profile line along an axial direction of the hub gradually decreases from the start point of the profile line to the end point of the profile line.

An impeller and a ventricular assist device are provided. The impeller comprises a hub and at least one blade fixed on an outer periphery of the hub; the hub comprises an inlet end and an outlet end; the blade comprises an action surface, an contour line of the action surface comprises an outer edge profile line away from the hub, an endpoint of the outer edge profile line close to the inlet end is a start point of the profile line, and an endpoint of the outer edge profile line close to the outlet end is an end point of the profile line; the outer edge profile line is a smooth space curve, and a curvature of the outer edge profile line along an axial direction of the hub gradually decreases from the start point of the profile line to the end point of the profile line.

A surgical or laparoscopic method of creating and maintaining an opening in the thoracic diaphragm of a patient. The method comprising the steps of creating an incision in the thoracic diaphragm and thereby creating an opening in the thoracic diaphragm, placing a diaphragm passing part in said opening created in the thoracic diaphragm, passing from the abdomen through the thoracic diaphragm and into the thorax; wherein the step of placing said diaphragm passing part comprises placing a force transferring part of the diaphragm passing part in contact with the thoracic diaphragm, the force transferring part being adapted to transfer force between the abdominal side of the thoracic diaphragm and the thoracic side of the thoracic diaphragm while sliding against the thoracic diaphragm.

An implantable heart help device adapted for implantation in a human patient is provided. The device comprising a fixating member adapted to fixate said device to a part of the human body comprising bone. Further a method of fixating an implantable heart help device in a human patient is provided. The method comprises the steps of: cutting the skin of said human patient, dissecting an area of the body comprising bone, and fixating said implantable heart help device to said part of the body comprising bone.

A method and device are provided for non-blood contact mechanically assisting an injured (e.g., infarcted) ventricle by coupling an inflatable bladder or other volume adjustable device to the injured ventricle and selectively inflating the bladder or increasing the size of the volume in systole to apply force against the injured ventricle and deflating the bladder or reducing the size of the volume in diastole to remove force against the injured ventricle. When no mechanical assistance is being provided to the injured ventricle, the inflatable bladder or volume adjustable device is preferably maintained at a predetermined pressure so as to selectively stiffen the injured tissue and alter ventricular geometry a desired amount. The method is implemented by a mechanical assist device including the volume adjustable device, a coupling means that couples the volume adjustable device to the injured ventricle, a pulsatile device that selectively increases and decreases the volume of the volume adjustable device, and a controller responsive to the pace of the heart and adapted to selectively change the size of the volume adjusting device in different modes of operation.

A method and device are provided for non-blood contact mechanically assisting an injured (e.g., infarcted) ventricle by coupling an inflatable bladder or other volume adjustable device to the injured ventricle and selectively inflating the bladder or increasing the size of the volume in systole to apply force against the injured ventricle and deflating the bladder or reducing the size of the volume in diastole to remove force against the injured ventricle. When no mechanical assistance is being provided to the injured ventricle, the inflatable bladder or volume adjustable device is preferably maintained at a predetermined pressure so as to selectively stiffen the injured tissue and alter ventricular geometry a desired amount. The method is implemented by a mechanical assist device including the volume adjustable device, a coupling means that couples the volume adjustable device to the injured ventricle, a pulsatile device that selectively increases and decreases the volume of the volume adjustable device, and a controller responsive to the pace of the heart and adapted to selectively change the size of the volume adjusting device in different modes of operation.

A control system for a cardiac assist device includes a sensor implantable in the body at the heart or at an implanted pump of the cardiac assist device, the sensor being for detecting motion of the pump within the body and hence being for monitoring movement of the pump, where the control system is arranged to, in use: receive signals from the sensor, the signals providing information on the movement of the pump; and to process the signals to monitor the pump speed and/or to identify pump malfunction and/or cardiac assist treatment complications.

A control system for a cardiac assist device includes a sensor implantable in the body at the heart or at an implanted pump of the cardiac assist device, the sensor being for detecting motion of the pump within the body and hence being for monitoring movement of the pump, where the control system is arranged to, in use: receive signals from the sensor, the signals providing information on the movement of the pump; and to process the signals to monitor the pump speed and/or to identify pump malfunction and/or cardiac assist treatment complications.

Improved systems and methods for extracorporeal blood temperature control and patient temperature control, e.g., for induced hypothermia and optional normothermia, may include or otherwise employ a heat exchanger for cooling/warming of a fluid, a thermal exchange module having fluidly-isolated first and second volumes, and a fluid pump for circulating the fluid through the heat exchanger and the first volume of the thermal exchange module. A blood pump may be provided for the flow of blood through the second volume of the thermal exchange module, and a first controller may be provided for providing output signals for use in operation of the heat exchanger to selectively control thermal exchange between the fluid circulated through the first volume of the thermal exchange module and the blood flowed through the second volume of the thermal exchange module, thereby providing for selective cooling/warming of the blood. A multi-lumen catheter may be utilized for the flow of blood from a patient vascular system to the second volume of the thermal exchange module, and for flow of blood from the second volume of the thermal exchange module back to the patient vascular system. The circulated fluid may be optionally circulated through a patient contact pad(s) for contact cooling/warming, wherein patient cooling/warming may be provided in a first mode via blood cooling/warming in the thermal exchange module, and patient cooling/warming may be provided in a second mode via thermal exchange by the contact pad(s).