Inlet device and connecting devices for a minimally invasive miniaturized percutaneous mechanical circulatory support system. The inlet device includes an inlet portion and a transfer portion with a support structure. The inlet device can be used for transmitting a body fluid of a patient, for example blood, to an impeller of a pump of the circulatory support system. The connecting device can include a receiving element and an insertion element. The receiving element of the connecting device can include a receiving structure that the insertion element of the connecting device can be pushed into. The insertion element can include at least one slide-on ramp, the slide-on ramp being connectable to the receiving structure in a form-fitting, non-positive, force-locking, and/or self-locking manner. The inlet device can include a receiving element or an insertion element of the connecting device.

A pumping cassette including a housing having at least two inlet fluid lines and at least two outlet fluid lines. At least one balancing pod within the housing and in fluid connection with the fluid paths. The balancing pod balances the flow of a first fluid and the flow of a second fluid such that the volume of the first fluid equals the volume of the second fluid. The balancing pod also includes a membrane that forms two balancing chambers. Also included in the cassette is at least two reciprocating pressure displacement membrane pumps. The pumps are within the housing and they pump the fluid from a fluid inlet to a fluid outlet line and pump the second fluid from a fluid inlet to a fluid outlet.

An artificial heart system for human beings or other creatures, comprises at least one half of the heart, to be implemented into the body, instead of or in parallel to the biologic heart or outside of human body for example for a portable dialysis apparatus, maintaining or supporting at least one blood circulatory system or circuit of the human being or the other creature as a pump, completely or partially, and at least one drive unit and at least one control unit, preferably to be placed outside the body.

An artificial heart system for human beings or other creatures, comprises at least one half of the heart, to be implemented into the body, instead of or in parallel to the biologic heart or outside of human body for example for a portable dialysis apparatus, maintaining or supporting at least one blood circulatory system or circuit of the human being or the other creature as a pump, completely or partially, and at least one drive unit and at least one control unit, preferably to be placed outside the body.

An improved valve leak detection system. The improved valve leak detection system comprises a membrane pump defining a flow path arranged to be opened and closed by at least one valve, a measuring device; a comparator; and a signal generator. The measuring device is configured to determine a conductivity value between two points on the flow path of the membrane pump, one point arranged upstream of the at least one valve and the other point arranged downstream of the at least one valve. The measuring device measures the conductivity value when the at least one valve is closed. The comparator is configured to continuously monitor the conductivity value. The signal generator is arranged to provide an output signal when the conductivity value is indicative of a valve leak condition for a set number of measurements within a set period of time.

The invention relates to a membrane pump device 2 for conveying fluids, in particular medical liquids for blood treatment. The invention furthermore relates to a membrane pump with a membrane pump device 2 and an actuating device 1 for the membrane pump device 2. The membrane pump device 2 has a pump chamber body 253 in which a recess, which is closed by an elastic membrane 201 to form a pump chamber 252, is constructed. The membrane pump device 2 moreover comprises an inward flow path 219 which connects an entry connection 204 to an inlet opening 215 of the pump chamber 252, and an outward flow path 223 which connects an outlet opening 216 of the pump chamber 252 to an exit connection 205. An inlet valve 202 is provided in the inward flow path 219 and an outlet valve 203 is provided in the outward flow path 223. The outlet valve 203 is a membrane valve which has a valve body 254A in which a recess is constructed which is closed by an elastic membrane 201 to form a valve chamber 218 in which a valve seat 225 is arranged, the front face of which faces the membrane and in the open position of the outlet valve is arranged at a distance from the valve seat, wherein a valve channel 240 passes through the valve seat. The outward flow path 223 comprises a first outward flow channel 214 which connects the outlet opening 216 of the pump chamber 252 to the outlet valve chamber 218, and a second outward flow channel 214A which connects the outlet valve chamber 240 to the exit connection 205, wherein the cross-section area of the outlet valve channel 240 is smaller than the cross-section area of the region of the valve chamber 218 surrounding the outlet valve seat 225.

Ventricular assist devices configured to be placed in a ventricle of a heart are described. In one embodiment, a ventricular assist device may include a pumping pouch. The pumping pouch may have an opening. The pumping pouch may be flexible, and may define an internal volume configured to fill with blood in through the opening. The ventricular assist device may also include a contraction element coupled to the contraction pouch. The contraction element may be capable of squeezing at least a portion of the pumping pouch to force at least a portion of the blood out through the opening. The ventricular assist device may also include a frame coupled to the pumping pouch. The frame may be configured to be coupled to a wall of the heart.

Embodiments of the present invention relate generally to certain types of reciprocating positive-displacement pumps (which may be referred to hereinafter as pods, pump pods, or pod pumps) used to pump fluids, such as a biological fluid (e.g., blood or peritoneal fluid), a therapeutic fluid (e.g., a medication solution), or a surfactant fluid. The pumps may be configured specifically to impart low shear forces and low turbulence on the fluid as the fluid is pumped from an inlet to an outlet. Such pumps may be particularly useful in pumping fluids that may be damaged by such shear forces (e.g., blood, and particularly heated blood, which is prone to hemolysis) or turbulence (e.g., surfectants or other fluids that may foam or otherwise be damaged or become unstable in the presence of turbulence).

An example medical device is disclosed. The example medical device includes a tubular scaffold having an inner surface and an outer surface. The medical device also includes a flexible inner member extending along at least a portion of the inner surface of the scaffold. Further, the medical device includes an activation assembly positioned along a portion of the inner member, the activation assembly including a conductive member having a first end region and a second end region, wherein a portion of the first end region is coupled to an activation element, and wherein the second end region is coupled to a power source. Additionally, the power source is configured to deliver an electrical stimulus to the activation element which shifts the inner member between a first configuration and a second expanded configuration.

A pump cassette is disclosed. The pump cassette includes a housing having at least, one fluid inlet line and at least one fluid outlet line. The cassette also includes at least one reciprocating pressure displacement membrane pump within the housing. The pressure pump pumps a fluid from the fluid inlet line to the fluid outlet line. A hollow spike is also included on the housing as well as at least one metering pump The metering pump is fluidly connected to the hollow spike on the housing and to a metering pump fluid line. The metering pump fluid line is fluidly connected to the fluid outlet line.