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).

Apparatus and methods are described, including a blood pump that includes a catheter, a proximal impeller disposed on the catheter inside a proximal impeller housing, and which is configured to pump blood by rotating inside the proximal impeller housing. A distal impeller is disposed on the catheter inside a distal impeller housing, distally to the proximal impeller, and the distal impeller is configured to pump blood by rotating inside the distal impeller housing. A tubular element is disposed between the proximal impeller housing and the distal impeller housing, the tubular element being configured to have a tubular configuration during rotation of the proximal and distal impellers. Other applications are also described.

Apparatus and methods are described, including a blood pump that includes a catheter, a proximal impeller disposed on the catheter inside a proximal impeller housing, and which is configured to pump blood by rotating inside the proximal impeller housing. A distal impeller is disposed on the catheter inside a distal impeller housing, distally to the proximal impeller, and the distal impeller is configured to pump blood by rotating inside the distal impeller housing. A tubular element is disposed between the proximal impeller housing and the distal impeller housing, the tubular element being configured to have a tubular configuration during rotation of the proximal and distal impellers. Other applications are also described.

A controller for an implantable blood pump including processing circuitry configured to operate the implantable blood pump and a piezoelectric element in communication with the implantable blood pump.

A controller for an implantable blood pump including processing circuitry configured to operate the implantable blood pump and a piezoelectric element in communication with the implantable blood pump.

A blood pump system for persistently increasing the overall diameter and lumen diameter of peripheral veins and arteries by persistently increasing the speed of blood and the wall shear stress in a peripheral vein or artery for a period of time sufficient to result in a persistent increase in the overall diameter and lumen diameter of the vessel is provided. The blood pump system includes a blood pump, blood conduit(s), a control system with optional sensors, and a power source. The pump system is configured to connect to the vascular system in a patient and pump blood at a desired rate and pulsatility. The pumping of blood is monitored and adjusted, as necessary, to maintain the desired elevated blood speed, wall shear stress, and desired pulsatility in the target vessel to optimize the rate and extent of persistent increase in the overall diameter and lumen diameter of the target vessel.

A blood pump for supporting the heart may be provided that includes: a rotor with delivery elements; a rotor drive; a pressure sensor; and a regulating device that regulates a pressure or a hemodynamic parameter by means of control of the rotor drive. The pressure and/or the hemodynamic parameter may be determined by means of one or a plurality of hemodynamic sensors and/or from operating parameters of the pump. The regulating device may be suitable for regulating a hemodynamic parameter successively, such as periodically, to different target values. Using such regulation, the blood pump may be operated in an optimized manner, and operation of the blood pump may be varied in a targeted and patient-protective manner in order to attain certain goals.

A blood pump for supporting the heart may be provided that includes: a rotor with delivery elements; a rotor drive; a pressure sensor; and a regulating device that regulates a pressure or a hemodynamic parameter by means of control of the rotor drive. The pressure and/or the hemodynamic parameter may be determined by means of one or a plurality of hemodynamic sensors and/or from operating parameters of the pump. The regulating device may be suitable for regulating a hemodynamic parameter successively, such as periodically, to different target values. Using such regulation, the blood pump may be operated in an optimized manner, and operation of the blood pump may be varied in a targeted and patient-protective manner in order to attain certain goals.

The embodiments relate to cardiac assist devices that comprise a jacket that wraps the exterior of the heart, where the jacket comprises a left chamber and a right chamber overlaying the left and right ventricles of the heart, respectively, where the chambers are expanded pneumatically to exert pressure on the heart and thereby mechanically assist its pumping. The timing of expansion of the left and right bladders is controlled by an electrical controller to match the desired or natural timing of contraction of the left and right ventricles, where both the left and right chambers may not expand simultaneously but are timed to optimize assistance of the heart. The embodiments provide jackets that apply pneumatic pressure to the right and left ventricles separately in timing to provide mechanical cardiac resynchronization therapy, as distinct from the conventional electrical stimulation cardiac resynchronization therapy.

The embodiments relate to cardiac assist devices that comprise a jacket that wraps the exterior of the heart, where the jacket comprises a left chamber and a right chamber overlaying the left and right ventricles of the heart, respectively, where the chambers are expanded pneumatically to exert pressure on the heart and thereby mechanically assist its pumping. The timing of expansion of the left and right bladders is controlled by an electrical controller to match the desired or natural timing of contraction of the left and right ventricles, where both the left and right chambers may not expand simultaneously but are timed to optimize assistance of the heart. The embodiments provide jackets that apply pneumatic pressure to the right and left ventricles separately in timing to provide mechanical cardiac resynchronization therapy, as distinct from the conventional electrical stimulation cardiac resynchronization therapy.