Method and systems control a rotational speed of a blood pump during ventricular diastole. A method includes controlling a blood pump in accordance with a first segment operational mode. A controller monitors the blood flow rate through the blood pump. The controller determines, based on the blood flow rate, whether continued controlling of the blood pump per the first segment operational mode would result in the blood flow rate through the blood pump being less than a target minimum blood flow rate. In response to a determination that continued controlling of the blood pump per the first segment operational mode would result in the blood flow rate through the blood pump being less than the target minimum blood flow rate, the controller controls the rotational speed of the blood pump so that the blood flow rate through the blood pump is approximate to the target minimum blood flow rate.

The invention provides an intraventricular pulsating blood pump fixedly disposed at the ventricularapex inside the ventricle to generate pulsation action. The pulsating blood pump is substantially jellyfish-shaped and includes a bell-shaped pump body and a driving source, an opening of the bell-shaped pump body faces to the outlet of the ventricle, the driving source drives the bell-shaped pump body to contract or relax, and the contraction or relaxation of the bell-shaped pump body drives the blood in the ventricle to eject directionally to the artery and form a convoluted blood flow field between the inner wall of the bell-shaped pump body and the inner wall of the ventricle. The invention not only provides assist to ventricular by pulsating blood flow, but also optimizes the flow field and pressure distribution in the ventricle, the blood pump of the invention is better in biocompatibility than the blood pumps in prior art.

A heart support device for circulatory assistance is disclosed. The device (2) comprises a chamber body (4) comprising an outer wall and defining an internal volume (Vx) configured to receive a volume of fluid. The chamber body (4) comprises an outlet opening (8) at its proximal end (4a), the outlet opening (8) being in fluid communication with an exterior volume in which the chamber body (4) is disposed. The outer wall of the chamber body (4) is configured to alternately collapse and expand between a first configuration in which the internal volume V.sub.x=V.sub.1 and a second configuration in which the internal volume V.sub.x=V.sub.2, wherein Vi is larger than V.sub.2, and thereby pump the fluid through the outlet opening (8). The cross-sectional internal diameter of the outlet opening (8) is less than a maximum cross-sectional internal diameter of the chamber body (4).

A heart support device for circulatory assistance is disclosed. The device (2) comprises a chamber body (4) comprising an outer wall and defining an internal volume (Vx) configured to receive a volume of fluid. The chamber body (4) comprises an outlet opening (8) at its proximal end (4a), the outlet opening (8) being in fluid communication with an exterior volume in which the chamber body (4) is disposed. The outer wall of the chamber body (4) is configured to alternately collapse and expand between a first configuration in which the internal volume V.sub.x=V.sub.1 and a second configuration in which the internal volume V.sub.x=V.sub.2, wherein Vi is larger than V.sub.2, and thereby pump the fluid through the outlet opening (8). The cross-sectional internal diameter of the outlet opening (8) is less than a maximum cross-sectional internal diameter of the chamber body (4).

A rotary pump housing having a cylindrical bore, a pumping chamber and a motor stator including an electrically conductive coil located within the housing and surrounding a portion of the cylindrical bore. A rotor has a cylindrical shaft with an impeller and one or of magnets located within the shaft that are responsive to the motor stator to drive actuation of the rotor. The housing bore is closely fitted to the outer surface of the shaft forming a hydrodynamic journal bearing with an annular clearance defining a leakage flow path. One or more of radial or axial thrust bearings may be provided to provide rotation stability to the rotor and flow within the leakage flow path. The relative orientation of positions of the inflow, outflow, and leakage flow paths may be varied within the pump, such as to accommodate different intended methods for implantation and/or use.

A method is provided for producing a bearing arrangement for an implantable blood pump. A bearing arrangement and an implantable blood pump are also provided. In the method, a rotor may be provided having one or more drive magnets. The rotor has a conveying element. In addition, a stator having stator windings is provided. Furthermore, the rotor is arranged in a flow channel formed by an inside wall of the stator. A rotor rotation is then driven. While the rotor rotation is driven, a deflection of the rotor is determined. In addition, the deflection of the rotor may be corrected by applying, removing, magnetizing and/or demagnetizing magnetically active material on the stator and/or on the rotor in a non-rotationally symmetrical manner.

A method is provided for producing a bearing arrangement for an implantable blood pump. A bearing arrangement and an implantable blood pump are also provided. In the method, a rotor may be provided having one or more drive magnets. The rotor has a conveying element. In addition, a stator having stator windings is provided. Furthermore, the rotor is arranged in a flow channel formed by an inside wall of the stator. A rotor rotation is then driven. While the rotor rotation is driven, a deflection of the rotor is determined. In addition, the deflection of the rotor may be corrected by applying, removing, magnetizing and/or demagnetizing magnetically active material on the stator and/or on the rotor in a non-rotationally symmetrical manner.

A medical device, such as an intra-aortic balloon pump or carrier with an extendable wheel track and handle configured to be removably carried and integrated with a cart. The wheel track is configured to extend upon extension of the handle and to return to its original position upon retraction of the handle.

Apparatus is provided, including a flexible intraventricular receptacle positionable within a heart ventricle, and configured to assume a first volume upon passage of fluid that is not blood into the receptacle and a second, smaller volume upon passage of the fluid out of the receptacle. An expandable extracardiac receptacle is positionable outside of the heart, and is configured to expand upon transfer of the fluid into the extracardiac receptacle from the intraventricular receptacle and to contract upon passage the fluid out of the extracardiac receptacle. A transmyocardial conduit is disposed and allows passage of the fluid between the intraventricular receptacle and the extracardiac receptacle responsively to a cardiac cycle. During ventricular systole, a volume of fluid is expelled from the intraventricular receptacle, through the conduit, and the extracardiac receptacle, producing a corresponding decrease in a total volume of the ventricle during isovolumetric contraction of the ventricle.

Apparatus includes a flexible intraventricular receptacle that assumes a first volume upon passage of fluid that is not blood into the receptacle and a second, smaller volume upon passage of the fluid out of the receptacle. An expandable extracardiac receptacle expands upon transfer of the fluid into the extracardiac receptacle from the intraventricular receptacle and contracts upon passage of the fluid out of the extracardiac receptacle. A transmyocardial conduit allows passage of the fluid between the intraventricular receptacle and the extracardiac receptacle responsively to a cardiac cycle. During ventricular systole, a volume of fluid is expelled from the intraventricular receptacle, through the conduit, and into the extracardiac receptacle, producing a corresponding decrease in a total volume of the ventricle during isovolumetric contraction of the ventricle. Other embodiments are also described.