Some embodiments of a system or method for treating heart tissue can include a control system and catheter device operated in a manner to intermittently occlude a heart vessel for controlled periods of time that provide redistribution of blood flow. In particular embodiments, the system and methods may be configured to monitor at least one input signal detected at a coronary sinus and thereby execute a process for determining a satisfactory time period for the occlusion of the coronary sinus. In further embodiments, after the occlusion of the coronary sinus is released, the control system can be configured to select the duration of the release phase before the starting the next occlusion cycle.

A processor of a medical device configured to communicate with a remote server can be programmed to protect the medical device from exposure to unauthorized or malicious software. A system or method to implement this form of protection can include, for example, at least one processor on the medical device, a control software module that controls the operation of the medical device and is executable on the processor, a data management module that manages data flow to and from the control software module from sources external to the medical device, and an agent module that has access to a limited number of designated memory locations in the medical device. In addition, a hemodialysis apparatus can be configured to operate in conjunction with an apparatus for providing purified water from a source such as a municipal water supply or a well. A system for controlling delivery of purified water to the hemodialysis apparatus can comprise a therapy controller of the hemodialysis apparatus configured to communicate with a controller of a water purification device, and a user interface controller of the hemodialysis apparatus configured to communicate with the therapy controller, and to send data to and receive data from a user interface.

An implantable pump includes a rigid housing with an oblate spheroid shape and having an inner chamber divided by a movable elastomeric membrane into a gas sub-chamber which is connectible through a drive line to an external pneumatic source, and a blood sub-chamber which is connectible through a graft assembly to an anatomical heart. The housing includes a blood port opening oriented at an angle and at the upper apex of the housing and connected to the blood sub-chamber, and a gas port opening to the gas sub-chamber that is situated at a lower apex of the housing. The pump is provided with a drive line that includes a gas conduit and a heart sensor, the drive line connectible to a drive system that is capable of delivering gas flow through the drive line gas conduit in response to signals driven by the heart sensor.

An implantable pump includes a rigid housing with an oblate spheroid shape and having an inner chamber divided by a movable elastomeric membrane into a gas sub-chamber which is connectible through a drive line to an external pneumatic source, and a blood sub-chamber which is connectible through a graft assembly to an anatomical heart. The housing includes a blood port opening oriented at an angle and at the upper apex of the housing and connected to the blood sub-chamber, and a gas port opening to the gas sub-chamber that is situated at a lower apex of the housing. The pump is provided with a drive line that includes a gas conduit and a heart sensor, the drive line connectible to a drive system that is capable of delivering gas flow through the drive line gas conduit in response to signals driven by the heart sensor.

A method for synchronizing operation of a heart assist pump device to a patient's cardiac cycle includes obtaining a signal from a motor of a heart assist pump device and filtering the signal to remove noise. The method also includes determining a speed synchronization start point at which time the motor of the heart assist pump device will begin a change in speed of operation based on the filtered signal. The method further includes modulating a speed of the motor of the heart assist pump device to a target speed at the speed synchronization start point, thereby synchronizing the change in speed of operation with a patient's cardiac cycle.

A method for synchronizing operation of a heart assist pump device to a patient's cardiac cycle includes obtaining a signal from a motor of a heart assist pump device and filtering the signal to remove noise. The method also includes determining a speed synchronization start point at which time the motor of the heart assist pump device will begin a change in speed of operation based on the filtered signal. The method further includes modulating a speed of the motor of the heart assist pump device to a target speed at the speed synchronization start point, thereby synchronizing the change in speed of operation with a patient's cardiac cycle.

A mechanical circulatory assist device is provided including a stent, a coiled wire wound around the stent, and a reciprocating valve including a housing, one or more leaflets coupled to the housing, and one or more permanent magnets coupled to the housing. The magnets are arranged to interact with a magnetic field generated by the coiled wire when current flows therethrough, so as to axially move the reciprocating valve with respect to the stent when the reciprocating valve is disposed within the stent. Upstream axial motion of the reciprocating valve causes the leaflets to be in an open state in which they allow blood flow through the reciprocating valve. Downstream axial motion of the reciprocating valve causes the leaflets to be in a closed state in which they inhibit blood flow through the reciprocating valve. Other embodiments are also described.

A mechanical circulatory assist device is provided including a stent, a coiled wire wound around the stent, and a reciprocating valve including a housing, one or more leaflets coupled to the housing, and one or more permanent magnets coupled to the housing. The magnets are arranged to interact with a magnetic field generated by the coiled wire when current flows therethrough, so as to axially move the reciprocating valve with respect to the stent when the reciprocating valve is disposed within the stent. Upstream axial motion of the reciprocating valve causes the leaflets to be in an open state in which they allow blood flow through the reciprocating valve. Downstream axial motion of the reciprocating valve causes the leaflets to be in a closed state in which they inhibit blood flow through the reciprocating valve. Other embodiments are also described.

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.

Methods and systems are disclosed for creating and using a neural network model to estimate a cardiac parameter of a patient, and using the estimated parameter in providing blood pump support to improve patient cardiac performance and heart health. Particular adaptations include adjusting blood pump parameters and determining whether and how to increase or decrease support, or wean the patient from the blood pump altogether. The model is created based on neural network processing of data from a first patient set and includes measured hemodynamic and pump parameters compared to a cardiac parameter measured in situ, for example the left ventricular volume measured by millar (in animals) or inca (in human) catheter. After development of a model based on the first set of patients, the model is applied to a patient in a second set to estimate the cardiac parameter without use of an additional catheter or direct measurement.