An intravascular blood pump for percutaneous insertion into a patient's vasculature comprises a pumping device and a supply catheter. The pumping device comprises a pump section with a blood flow inlet, blood flow outlet, and impeller for conveying blood from the inlet to the outlet and further comprises a drive section connected to the pump section and adapted to drive the impeller. The supply line supplies the drive section with electric energy for driving the impeller. An anchoring structure is provided at a distal end region of the intravascular blood pump. A connecting catheter may be attached to the anchoring structure from distally in order to guide the intravascular blood pump through the patient's vasculature in a distal direction.

An improved system for supporting (e.g., localization and/or positioning of) intravascular devices discussed herein provides for example a multi-element arrangement. A set of struts optionally projects from the intravascular device and contacts the vessel walls. The localization and positioning of the pump may be provided by the struts and/or by use of a tether opposing a propulsive force to ensure localization.

An improved system for supporting (e.g., localization and/or positioning of) intravascular devices discussed herein provides for example a multi-element arrangement. A set of struts optionally projects from the intravascular device and contacts the vessel walls. The localization and positioning of the pump may be provided by the struts and/or by use of a tether opposing a propulsive force to ensure localization.

The present invention relates to surgical or laparoscopic method of creating and maintaining an opening in the thoracic diaphragm of a patient. In said method, an incision in the thoracic diaphragm is created, thereby creating an opening in the thoracic diaphragm. Further a diaphragm passing part is placed in said opening created in the thoracic diaphragm, passing from the abdomen, through the thoracic diaphragm at the pericardial contacting section, into the pericardium; When placing the diaphragm passing part a force transferring part of the diaphragm passing part is placed in contact with the thoracic diaphragm, the force transferring part being adapted to, by motion of the force transferring part, transfer force between the abdominal side of the thoracic diaphragm and the thoracic side of the thoracic diaphragm or the pericardium while sliding against the thoracic diaphragm.

The present invention relates to surgical or laparoscopic method of creating and maintaining an opening in the thoracic diaphragm of a patient. In said method, an incision in the thoracic diaphragm is created, thereby creating an opening in the thoracic diaphragm. Further a diaphragm passing part is placed in said opening created in the thoracic diaphragm, passing from the abdomen, through the thoracic diaphragm at the pericardial contacting section, into the pericardium; When placing the diaphragm passing part a force transferring part of the diaphragm passing part is placed in contact with the thoracic diaphragm, the force transferring part being adapted to, by motion of the force transferring part, transfer force between the abdominal side of the thoracic diaphragm and the thoracic side of the thoracic diaphragm or the pericardium while sliding against the thoracic diaphragm.

Transcatheterly implantable mammalian body conduit intralumenal device and lumen wall anchor assembly. Anchor includes: wire network, connector positioning wires having a secured and a released position, and a connector disposed at end of each wire. Anchor has: a compact-secured-configuration, an expanded-secured-configuration, an expanded-released-configuration. When the anchor is in the expanded-secured-configuration, the wire network exerts a force on conduit lumen wall and the connector positioning wires are the in secured position. When the anchor is in the expanded-released-configuration, the connector positioning wires are in the released position, and do not obstruct fluid flow axially through conduit. Device includes an interconnector that allows for the releasable interconnector of the connectors thereto. Device and anchor assembly can be explanted from the conduit. Or, device can be released from the anchor at the implantation site and only the device explanted with the anchor remaining within the conduit.

Transcatheterly implantable mammalian body conduit intralumenal device and lumen wall anchor assembly. Anchor includes: wire network, connector positioning wires having a secured and a released position, and a connector disposed at end of each wire. Anchor has: a compact-secured-configuration, an expanded-secured-configuration, an expanded-released-configuration. When the anchor is in the expanded-secured-configuration, the wire network exerts a force on conduit lumen wall and the connector positioning wires are the in secured position. When the anchor is in the expanded-released-configuration, the connector positioning wires are in the released position, and do not obstruct fluid flow axially through conduit. Device includes an interconnector that allows for the releasable interconnector of the connectors thereto. Device and anchor assembly can be explanted from the conduit. Or, device can be released from the anchor at the implantation site and only the device explanted with the anchor remaining within the conduit.

A blood flow assist system can include an impeller assembly including an impeller shaft and an impeller on the impeller shaft, a primary flow pathway disposed along an exterior surface of the impeller. The system can include a rotor assembly at a proximal portion of the impeller shaft. A secondary flow pathway can be disposed along a lumen of the impeller shaft. During operation of the blood flow assist system, blood can be pumped proximally along the primary flow pathway and the secondary flow pathway. The system can include a sleeve bearing distal the impeller. The system can include a drive unit having a distal end disposed distal a proximal end of the second impeller. The drive unit comprising a drive magnet and a drive bearing between the drive magnet and the impeller assembly.

An implantable pump system is provided, including an implantable blood pump suitable for use as a partial support assist device, the system further including an extracorporeal battery and a controller coupled to the implantable pump, and a programmer selectively periodically coupled to the controller to configure and adjust operating parameters of the implantable pump. The implantable pump includes a flexible membrane coupled to an electromagnetic actuator including a magnetic assembly and electromagnetic assembly, so that when the electromagnetic assembly is energized, the electromagnetic assembly causes wavelike undulations to propagate along the flexible membrane to propel blood through the implantable pump. The controller may be programmed by a programmer to operate at frequencies and duty cycles that mimic physiologic flow rates and pulsatility while operating in an efficient manner that avoids thrombus formation, hemolysis and/or platelet activation.

An implantable pump system is provided, including an implantable blood pump suitable for use as a partial support assist device, the system further including an extracorporeal battery and a controller coupled to the implantable pump, and a programmer selectively periodically coupled to the controller to configure and adjust operating parameters of the implantable pump. The implantable pump includes a flexible membrane coupled to an electromagnetic actuator including a magnetic assembly and electromagnetic assembly, so that when the electromagnetic assembly is energized, the electromagnetic assembly causes wavelike undulations to propagate along the flexible membrane to propel blood through the implantable pump. The controller may be programmed by a programmer to operate at frequencies and duty cycles that mimic physiologic flow rates and pulsatility while operating in an efficient manner that avoids thrombus formation, hemolysis and/or platelet activation.