The invention relates to a controller unit (100) and method for controlling a cardiac prosthesis (200). The prosthesis comprising: at least one pump portion (202, 203, 602, 702); an inlet (210, 610, 710) connected to said at least one pump portion; an outlet (213, 613, 713) connected to said at least one pump portion; a pressure sensor (231; 232) configured to measure pressure of a fluid flowing from the inlet to the outlet; a pump actuator (221, 222) configured to induce the flow of the fluid flow. The controller unit further comprises a memory and a processing unit, wherein the controller unit is configured to: obtain a pressure value from the pressure sensor, obtain a desired value for the pressure of the fluid flowing into the pump, calculate an error signal equal to the difference of desired value for the pressure and the measured pressure, and control the output of the pump such that the measured pressure is near or equal to the desired pressure, by controlling a pump stroke rate and/or a pump stroke volume.

The invention relates to an intercardiac pump device comprising a pump (11) whose distal end (13) is connected to a cannula (15) which is provided with a suction head (16) for sucking blood. Said strainer is provided with a non-sucking extension (20) for stabilizing the position of said pump device in the heart and mechanically prolonging the cannula (15) without deteriorating hydraulic conditions. Said extension is also used in the form of a spacer in order to avoid that the suction head (16) adheres to a cardiac wall.

A heart pump assembly, also referred to as catheter assembly, having a desired anatomical shape is provided. The catheter assembly can include a catheter and a cannula having a bend between a proximal portion and a distal portion. A resting shape of the catheter and the cannula can be selected to allow the distal cannula portion to be positioned at a desired angle relative to an anatomical plane (e.g., a plane of an aortic arch). In some embodiments, a packaging tray can be designed to set the catheter assembly in a desired resting shape. For example, the proximal cannula portion can be positioned at a first angle relative to the catheter, and the proximal cannula portion can be positioned at a second angle out of the plane of the packaging tray via one or more inserts.

A blood pump includes a housing having an inlet. A rotor disposed in the housing and configured to rotate substantially about the axis to pump blood from the inlet to the outlet. A stator is disposed within the housing and configured to drive rotation of the rotor about the axis. A bearing mechanism for supporting the rotor inside the housing includes a magnetic bearing configured to magnetically support the rotor inside the housing in a radial direction from the axis. The bearing mechanism includes a sliding bearing configured to physically support the rotor inside the housing in an axial direction along the axis of the housing and allow rotation of the rotor substantially about the axis, the sliding bearing comprising at least one point of contact where the rotor is configured to physically contact a trunnion affixed to the housing.

A blood pump includes a housing having an inlet. A rotor disposed in the housing and configured to rotate substantially about the axis to pump blood from the inlet to the outlet. A stator is disposed within the housing and configured to drive rotation of the rotor about the axis. A bearing mechanism for supporting the rotor inside the housing includes a magnetic bearing configured to magnetically support the rotor inside the housing in a radial direction from the axis. The bearing mechanism includes a sliding bearing configured to physically support the rotor inside the housing in an axial direction along the axis of the housing and allow rotation of the rotor substantially about the axis, the sliding bearing comprising at least one point of contact where the rotor is configured to physically contact a trunnion affixed to the housing.

A catheter pump includes an elongate cannula with a formed mesh structure extending cylindrically between opposing ends thereof. The formed mesh structure defines a pattern configured to be stably expandable and collapsible without fracturing in a percutaneous delivery and re-sheathing in the provision of mechanical circulatory support of a patient’s heart.

A catheter pump includes an elongate cannula with a formed mesh structure extending cylindrically between opposing ends thereof. The formed mesh structure defines a pattern configured to be stably expandable and collapsible without fracturing in a percutaneous delivery and re-sheathing in the provision of mechanical circulatory support of a patient’s heart.

An expandable cannula for a percutaneous heart pump includes a substantially open proximal end, a substantially open distal end and an elongate central portion disposed between the proximal end and the distal end. The elongate central portion has an inner surface and an opposing outer surface. The expandable cannula is made of a shape memory alloy having an austenite finish temperature A.sub.f that is at or below the body temperature of a human patient.

An expandable cannula for a percutaneous heart pump includes a substantially open proximal end, a substantially open distal end and an elongate central portion disposed between the proximal end and the distal end. The elongate central portion has an inner surface and an opposing outer surface. The expandable cannula is made of a shape memory alloy having an austenite finish temperature A.sub.f that is at or below the body temperature of a human patient.

A catheter pump is disclosed herein. The catheter pump can include an elongate catheter body and an impeller assembly coupled to a distal portion of the elongate catheter body. The impeller assembly can comprise an impeller configured to rotate during operation of the catheter pump. A tube can extend through at least portions of the elongate catheter body and the impeller assembly. The tube can extend distal the impeller and can be configured to remain in the portions of the elongate catheter body and the impeller assembly during operation of the catheter pump.