An external transmitter inductive coil can be provided in, on, or with a belt designed to be placed externally around a part of a body of a patient. An implantable device (such as a VAD or other medical device) that is implanted within the patient's body has associated with a receiver inductive coil that gets implanted within that part of the patient's body along with the device. The externally-located transmitter inductive coil inductively transfers electromagnetic power into that part of the body and thus to the receiver inductive coil. The implanted receiver inductive coil thus wirelessly receives the inductively-transferred electromagnetic power, and operates the implant.

Disclosed is a distributed transformer or extension cord component for a transcutaneous energy transfer system used to transfer electric power to an implanted medical device. The extension cord component may enable power transfer to occur at various points on or near the body of the subject within whom the medical device is implanted. In this way, the subject may gain greater flexibility and high levels of convenience in connection with use of the transcutaneous energy transfer system.

An apparatus for starting operation of a motor of an implantable blood pump including a memory storing one or more default parameters for at least one of controlling and monitoring the startup operation. A processor operatively coupled to the motor is included, the processor is configured to: commence the startup operation based on the one or more default parameters; detect an error during the startup operation; adjust at least one of the one or more default parameters in response to the detected error; store the at least one adjusted parameter in the memory; and commence subsequent startup operations based at least in part on the at least one adjusted parameter.

An apparatus for starting operation of a motor of an implantable blood pump including a memory storing one or more default parameters for at least one of controlling and monitoring the startup operation. A processor operatively coupled to the motor is included, the processor is configured to: commence the startup operation based on the one or more default parameters; detect an error during the startup operation; adjust at least one of the one or more default parameters in response to the detected error; store the at least one adjusted parameter in the memory; and commence subsequent startup operations based at least in part on the at least one adjusted parameter.

The invention relates to a device (10; 10a) for inductive energy transfer into a human body (1), having a transmitter unit (11) with a housing (12), in which at least one transmitter coil (14) is arranged, wherein the housing (12) comprises a contact surface (23), which is configured in order to be brought into surface contact with the body (1), and a receiver unit (20) that can be positioned in the body (1) with a receiver coil (21), wherein a heat-insulating element (26) and a heat-conducting element (30; 30a) are arranged between the transmitter coil (14) and the body.

A system for supplying power transcutaneously to an implantable device implanted within a subject is provided. The system includes an external connector including one of a microneedle array and a microwire holder. The system further includes a power cable electrically coupled to the external connector and configured to supply power to the one of the microneedle array and the microwire holder, and an internal connector configured to be implanted within the subject and electrically coupled to the implantable device, the internal connector including the other of the microneedle array and the microwire holder. The microneedle array includes a plurality of electrically conductive microneedles, the microwire holder includes a plurality of electrical contacts, and the microwire holder is configured to engage the microneedle array such that the plurality of electrically conductive microneedles extend through the skin of the subject and electrically couple to the plurality of electrical contacts.

Apparatuses and methods relating to interfacing and controlling external batteries are described. In one embodiment, an external battery is integrated with a touch screen display. In one embodiment, the external battery provides an infrared communication link with a detachable device or system controller. In one embodiment, the external battery touch screen interface provides data received from a detachable device or system controller.

A fluid treatment system for a percutaneous cable and methods of assembly and use are described herein. In one aspect, the fluid treatment system includes a delivery tube comprising a distal end and a proximal end. The distal end is configured to surround at least a portion of the percutaneous cable. The percutaneous cable extends from within a patient to outside the patient through tissue at an exit site. The proximal end is connectable to a fluid source. Fluid from the fluid source is configured to be delivered to the exit site through the delivery tube. The fluid treatment system includes an anchor coupleable to the percutaneous cable to secure the percutaneous cable to the tissue at the exit site.

A disclosed apparatus or method can include or use a non-transluminally implantable blood pump housing, which can be sized and shaped to be implanted at an aortic valve of a human subject, the pump housing can include: a pump housing cross-sectional profile size that is larger than is passable via a blood vessel of the human subject; and a power connection, configured for being electrically connected to an intravascular lead that is sized and shaped to extend from the pump housing through a subclavian artery of the human subject.

An operable implant adapted to be implanted in the body of a patient, the operable implant comprising an operation device and a body engaging portion, wherein the operation device comprises a first unit comprising a receiving unit for receiving wireless energy and a first gear system adapted to receive mechanical work having a first force and first velocity, and output mechanical work having a different second force and a different second velocity. The operation device further comprises a second unit comprising an electrical motor adapted to transform electrical energy to the mechanical work, and a distance element adapted to separate the first and second units such that the receiving unit, when receiving wireless energy, is not substantially affected by the second unit.