The invention comprises an apparatus and a method for operating a cardiac assist pump, comprising the steps of: (1) providing a cardiac monitor comprising: a cardiac output sensor including an activity sensor and at least two of: a pulse oximeter; an electrocardiogram meter; and a blood pressure monitor; (2) receiving time-varying cardiovascular input data, from the cardiac output sensor, related to a transient hemodynamic state of a cardiovascular system; (3) receiving and operating on time-varying activity input data, from the activity sensor, to generate cardiovascular state information; (4) sensing activity with the activity sensor to generate a target cardiovascular state; (5) repeating both the steps of receiving and operating to update the transient cardiovascular state information and the step of sensing to update the target cardiovascular state; and (6) directing the cardiac assist pump to adjust assisted blood flow, yielding the updated transient cardiovascular state, toward the target cardiovascular state.

The invention comprises an apparatus and a method for aiding function of a heart, comprising the steps of: (1) sensing a pulse; (2) providing a blood flow assist device, comprising: a first electroactive polymer sleeve segment circumferentially positioned about a portion of a first body part and a second electroactive polymer sleeve segment circumferentially positioned about a segment of a second body part; (3) sequentially constricting, timed to the pulse, the first electroactive polymer sleeve segment and the second electroactive polymer sleeve segment to aid the heart in circulation of blood; and (4) repeating the step of sensing the pulse and the step of constricting.

Systems and methods are provided for treating conditions such as heart failure and/or pulmonary hypertension by at least partially occluding flow through the superior vena cava for an interval spanning multiple cardiac cycles. A catheter with an occlusion device is provided along with a controller that actuates a drive mechanism to provide at least partial occlusion of the patient's superior vena cava, which reduces cardiac filling pressures, and induces a favorable shift in the patient's Frank-Starling curve towards healthy heart functionality and improved cardiac performance. The system may include sensors to determine the degree of occlusion of the superior vena cava. The occlusion system may be used to reduce volume in a heart and facilitate a cardiac procedure. The occlusion system may be used to relieve an overloaded chamber during and/or after deploying a VAD.

A spring (3, 3) comprising a plurality of elements (30), each element (3) comprising a rigid portion (31) and a flexible beam (32), the extremities (320, 321) of the flexible beam being supported by the rigid portion (31), the flexible beam (32) having a single stable position, so that the flexible beam can be deformed when a pressure is exerted between said extremities in the direction of the rigid portion (31), and returns to said single stable position when the pressure is released, and wherein the rigid portion (31) of at least one element (30) is in contact with the flexible beam (32) of the next element between said extremities (320, 321) of the flexible beam (32), so that the spring has a negative stiffness over an operating range. The arrangement ensures a pure radial compression/expansion of the spring.

A spring (3, 3) comprising a plurality of elements (30), each element (3) comprising a rigid portion (31) and a flexible beam (32), the extremities (320, 321) of the flexible beam being supported by the rigid portion (31), the flexible beam (32) having a single stable position, so that the flexible beam can be deformed when a pressure is exerted between said extremities in the direction of the rigid portion (31), and returns to said single stable position when the pressure is released, and wherein the rigid portion (31) of at least one element (30) is in contact with the flexible beam (32) of the next element between said extremities (320, 321) of the flexible beam (32), so that the spring has a negative stiffness over an operating range. The arrangement ensures a pure radial compression/expansion of the spring.

A system configured to be at least partially implanted along an aorta includes an inelastic, static member and a pinching member. The pinching member is configured to receive an activation signal at an activation rate and in response to the activation signal, repeatedly compress the aorta at the second location at the activation rate to pump fluid within the aorta in a desired pumping direction. The system is configured to selectively control wave reflections in order to achieve both improved wave dynamics to reduce cardiac load and increased (or at least non-diminished) blood flow to targeted organs within the cardiovascular system.

A system configured to be at least partially implanted along an aorta includes an inelastic, static member and a pinching member. The pinching member is configured to receive an activation signal at an activation rate and in response to the activation signal, repeatedly compress the aorta at the second location at the activation rate to pump fluid within the aorta in a desired pumping direction. The system is configured to selectively control wave reflections in order to achieve both improved wave dynamics to reduce cardiac load and increased (or at least non-diminished) blood flow to targeted organs within the cardiovascular system.

A tubular pulsatile ventricular assist device (PVAD) system for providing forward flow of blood in a pulsatile, peristaltic, and non-hemolytic manner to help reduce the amount of blood clotting associated with current ventricular devices on the market. The system can encircle a portion of a blood vessel, and the system can sequentially apply a pressure through each port in a particular pre-determined patter so as to selectively occlude the lumen, thereby creating a pulsatile, peristaltic movement along a length of system. Said movement causes blood to flow through the portion of the blood vessel.

A tubular pulsatile ventricular assist device (PVAD) system for providing forward flow of blood in a pulsatile, peristaltic, and non-hemolytic manner to help reduce the amount of blood clotting associated with current ventricular devices on the market. The system can encircle a portion of a blood vessel, and the system can sequentially apply a pressure through each port in a particular pre-determined patter so as to selectively occlude the lumen, thereby creating a pulsatile, peristaltic movement along a length of system. Said movement causes blood to flow through the portion of the blood vessel.

A spiral flow-inducing exo-graft is a non-blood contacting helically shaped device that wraps around the outside of a blood-carrying conduit and manipulates hemodynamic flow-patterns. The blood-carrying conduit can be a natural tissue blood vessel or an artificial graft.