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.

A pump is provided with a housing and with an upstream inlet and a downstream outlet and a fluid channel with a channel axis, said fluid channel being arranged between the inlet and outlet. A rotor which can be brought into rotation by way of a motor is arranged within the fluid channel. Furthermore, a sensor arrangement is provided which can detect an inclination of the rotation axis of the rotor.

The present invention provides devices, systems, and methods for control of and communication with ventricular assist devices. In certain embodiments, the invention includes an implantable controller that is operatively programmed to direct physiological flow through a ventricular assist device that can be substantially synchronized to the cardiac cycle of the subject. In certain embodiments, the implantable controller is also communicatively connected to an external control unit, such that the implantable controller can transmit data to the external control unit, and instructions can be sent from the external control unit to the implantable controller. In certain embodiments, a system and method for secure communication between a remote device and the implanted ventricular assist device is provided.

A device for pumping blood, includes a housing having a distal end adapted to be coupled to a catheter, a proximal end having an outlet, and a tubular body extending between the distal and proximal ends along an axis. A rotor is rotatably disposed within the housing. A first magnetic bearing is operative to levitate the rotor along the axis within the housing. A second magnetic bearing controls a rotational frequency of the rotor. A third magnetic bearing controls a radial position of the rotor.

A method for outputting a combined power source alarm for an implantable blood pump includes determining a status for each of first and second power sources of the blood pump. A combined power source alarm based on the statuses of the first and second power sources is outputted. A method for generating an alarm based on fault detections in a mechanically assisted circulation system includes processing a series of fault detection indications to classify a fault as active or inactive. An alarm is generated if the fault is active for more than a predetermined amount of time.

A pumping system (200) for controlling the flow of interatrial blood comprises, housed inside a container (201), a control element (30, 30′, 30″) of the interatrial blood flow. The control element comprises: at least one worm screw (31), the rotation of which creates a two-way flow of interatrial blood; or a pair of counter-rotating propellers (31′); or a pair of membranes (31″) whose deformation creates a two-way flow of interatrial blood; or a flexible structure (31″) whose change in volume within the container (201) creates a two-way flow of interatrial blood.

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).

A blood circulation assist system includes a ventricular assist device (VAD) and a controller. The VAD is attachable to a heart of a patient to pump blood from a ventricle of the heart into a blood vessel of the patient. The VAD includes an impeller, a motor stator operable to rotate the impeller, and an accelerometer generating an accelerometer output indicative of accelerations of the VAD. The controller controls operation of the motor stator to control rotational speed of the impeller based on the accelerometer output.

Method and systems control a rotational speed of a blood pump during ventricular diastole. A method includes controlling a blood pump in accordance with a first segment operational mode. A controller monitors the blood flow rate through the blood pump. The controller determines, based on the blood flow rate, whether continued controlling of the blood pump per the first segment operational mode would result in the blood flow rate through the blood pump being less than a target minimum blood flow rate. In response to a determination that continued controlling of the blood pump per the first segment operational mode would result in the blood flow rate through the blood pump being less than the target minimum blood flow rate, the controller controls the rotational speed of the blood pump so that the blood flow rate through the blood pump is approximate to the target minimum blood flow rate.

Described are systems and methods for administration of nitric oxide (NO) with use of left ventricular assists devices (LVADs), as well as systems and methods for monitoring the NO delivery devices and/or the LVAD.