Disclosed are systems and techniques for determining an acoustic biomarker. For example, a precordial sound recording that includes at least a first sound component corresponding to a heart and a second sound component corresponding to a left ventricular assist device (LVAD) can be obtained. At least a portion of the second sound component corresponding to the LVAD can be filtered from the precordial sound recording to yield a filtered precordial sound recording. Based on the filtered precordial sound recording, at least one acoustic biomarker can be determined.

Disclosed are systems and techniques for determining an acoustic biomarker. For example, a precordial sound recording that includes at least a first sound component corresponding to a heart and a second sound component corresponding to a left ventricular assist device (LVAD) can be obtained. At least a portion of the second sound component corresponding to the LVAD can be filtered from the precordial sound recording to yield a filtered precordial sound recording. Based on the filtered precordial sound recording, at least one acoustic biomarker can be determined.

A method of determining a heart rate of a patient having an implanted blood pump including applying a voltage to a plurality of coils of a stator of the blood pump to produce an electromagnetic force to rotate a rotor in communication with the plurality of coils; displaying a waveform associated with a back electromotive force in the plurality of coils of the blood pump, the waveform being proportional to an axial position of the rotor relative to the stator; determining a time interval between a first alteration in the waveform relative to a baseline and a second alteration in the waveform relative to the baseline; and determining the heart rate of the patient based on the time interval.

Methods for synchronizing the actions of a pulsatile cardiac assist device with a dysfunctional heart using a cardiac pacemaker. Aspects include receiving a signal from the pacemaker and actuating the pulsatile cardiac assist device in response to the signal from the pacemaker to either help push blood out of the heart during systole or to help suck blood from the atria during diastole.

A hemodynamic flow assist device includes a miniature pump, a basket-like cage enclosing and supporting the pump, and a motor to drive the pump. The device is implanted and retrieved in a minimally invasive manner via percutaneous access to a patient's artery. The device has a first, collapsed configuration to assist in implantation and a second, expanded configuration once deployed and active. The device is deployed within a patient's aorta and is secured in place via a self-expanding cage which engages the inner wall of the aorta. The device includes a helical screw pump with self-expanding blades, sensors, and anchoring structures. Also disclosed is a retrieval device to remove the hemodynamic flow assist device once it is no longer needed by the patient and an arterial closure device to close the artery access point after implantation and removal of the hemodynamic flow assist device. The hemodynamic flow assist device helps to increase blood flow in patients suffering from congestive heart failure and awaiting heart transplant.

In an implanted medical device system, an internal controller, external power transmitter and methods for monitoring and dynamically managing power in an implanted medical device system are disclosed. According to one aspect, an internal controller is configured to provide power to a motor of an implanted medical device, the power being drawn from at least one of an internal battery and an internal coil, the at least one of the internal battery and the internal coil providing a supplied voltage. The internal controller includes processing circuitry configured to switch to one of the internal battery, the internal coil and a combination of the internal battery and the internal coil, based on a comparison of the supplied voltage to a threshold.

The invention relates to a medical treatment apparatus comprising a tube set 20, a peristaltic pump 6 for conveying fluid, and a monitoring apparatus 15 for monitoring the occlusion of the positive displacement elements 13A, 13B of the peristaltic pump. In addition, the invention relates to a tube set 20 for a medical treatment apparatus, and to a method for monitoring the occlusion of the occlusion elements of a peristaltic pump for conveying a fluid for a medical treatment apparatus. The invention is based on the fact that the occlusion of the positive displacement elements 13A, 13B of the peristaltic pump 6 is monitored in order to monitor the fluid flow in the hose line 5. For this purpose, the electrical resistance or a variable which correlates with the electrical resistance is measured between a first and a second electrode 16A, 16B, the first electrode 16A being arranged on the hose line 5 upstream of the occlusion elements 12 of the peristaltic pump 6 and the second electrode 16b being arranged on the hose line downstream of the occlusion elements such that an electrical contact is produced between the first and second electrode 16A, 16B and the fluid flowing in the hose line 5. The electrodes 16A, 16B are preferably integral component parts of a connecting piece 10, by means of which the hose segment 5A to be inserted into the peristaltic pump 6 is fixed in the form of a loop.

Apparatus and methods are described including a left-ventricular assist device that includes an impeller configured to be placed inside a subject's left ventricle and to pump blood from the left ventricle to the subject's aorta, by rotating. A frame is disposed around the impeller. A tube traverses the subject's aortic valve, such that a proximal portion of the tube is disposed within the aorta and a distal portion of the tube is disposed within the left ventricle. The distal portion of the tube extends to the distal end of the frame and defines more than 10 blood-inlet openings that are sized such as (a) to allow blood to flow from the subject's left ventricle into the tube and (b) to block structures from the subject's left ventricle from entering into the frame. Other applications are also described.

Apparatus and methods are described including a left-ventricular assist device that includes an impeller configured to be placed inside a subject's left ventricle and to pump blood from the left ventricle to the subject's aorta, by rotating. A frame is disposed around the impeller. A tube traverses the subject's aortic valve, such that a proximal portion of the tube is disposed within the aorta and a distal portion of the tube is disposed within the left ventricle. The distal portion of the tube extends to the distal end of the frame and defines more than 10 blood-inlet openings that are sized such as (a) to allow blood to flow from the subject's left ventricle into the tube and (b) to block structures from the subject's left ventricle from entering into the frame. Other applications are also described.

The systems and methods described herein determine metrics of cardiac performance via a mechanical circulatory support device and use the cardiac performance to calibrate, control and deliver mechanical circulatory support for the heart. The systems include a controller configured to operate the device, receive inputs indicative of device operating conditions and hemodynamic parameters, and determine vascular performance, including vascular resistance and compliance, and native cardiac output. The systems and methods operate by using the mechanical circulatory support device (e.g., a heart pump) to introduce controlled perturbations of the vascular system and, in response, determine heart parameters such as stroke volume, vascular resistance and compliance, left ventricular end diastolic pressure, and ultimately determine native cardiac output.