Introduced here are systems for facilitating wireless power transfer to devices that are implanted in living bodies. The wireless power systems described herein utilize inductive coupling between a pair of resonators—namely, a first resonator located external to a living body and a second resonator located internal to the living body—for efficient wireless power transmission. Each resonator can include a conductive loop with at least one interruption in which discrete capacitors are situated. Moreover, each resonator may include a magnetic core that shapes the magnetic field created by the corresponding conductive loop.

Introduced here are systems for facilitating wireless power transfer to devices that are implanted in living bodies. The wireless power systems described herein utilize inductive coupling between a pair of resonators—namely, a first resonator located external to a living body and a second resonator located internal to the living body—for efficient wireless power transmission. Each resonator can include a conductive loop with at least one interruption in which discrete capacitors are situated. Moreover, each resonator may include a magnetic core that shapes the magnetic field created by the corresponding conductive loop.

A blood pump can include a pump housing, an impeller, and a hub. The pump housing can be configured to move blood from an inlet to an outlet thereof. The impeller can be housed in the pump housing, have a plurality of blades joined by a central ring, and be radially supported at the central ring by a bearing. The hub can transmit torque to the impeller using a radial magnetic coupling.

Systems and methods for detecting suction events in blood pumps by monitoring pump motor current. A pump suction event is detected based on a comparison of a pulsatility index that is calculated based on a filtered pump motor current signal with a first predetermined threshold or based on a comparison of a calculated index associated with a normalized band-pass filtered pump motor current signal with a second predetermined threshold. A suction event is also detected based on comparisons of both the calculated pulsatility index and the calculated index associated with the normalized band-pass filtered pump motor current signal with respective first and second predetermined thresholds.

Systems and methods for detecting suction events in blood pumps by monitoring pump motor current. A pump suction event is detected based on a comparison of a pulsatility index that is calculated based on a filtered pump motor current signal with a first predetermined threshold or based on a comparison of a calculated index associated with a normalized band-pass filtered pump motor current signal with a second predetermined threshold. A suction event is also detected based on comparisons of both the calculated pulsatility index and the calculated index associated with the normalized band-pass filtered pump motor current signal with respective first and second predetermined thresholds.

A method of assisting a heart for the operation of a ventricular assist device comprising the steps of implanting a cannula to the heart and deploying a stent within a left ventricle, a right ventricle, a left atrium, or a right atrium of the heart. The stent may be transferable from a first compact configuration to a second open configuration to facilitate implantation. The stent may also have a flared distal end to assist with alignment, positioning, and prevent outgrowth.

Disclosed is a blood pump device. The blood pump device includes: a housing having an overflow passage, and an inlet and an outlet respectively connected to the overflow passage; a rotor assembly rotatably disposed in the overflow passage; a coil disposed in a side wall of the housing; a first permanent magnet portion disposed inside the rotor assembly; a second permanent magnet portion disposed in the side wall of the housing, the first permanent magnet portion and the second permanent magnet portion forming a radial permanent magnet bearing; a piece of electric motor magnetic steel disposed inside a rotor of the rotor assembly; and a magnetic protection portion disposed at a periphery of the coil, wherein the magnetic protection portion and the electric motor magnetic steel act together to provide an axial pre-tightening force for the rotor assembly.

A blood pump for supporting a patient's heart includes a flow cannula having a distal portion including a distal end and a proximal portion including a proximal end opposite the distal end, the distal end of the flow cannula configured to be connected to the patient's heart or a blood vessel to establish fluid communication between the blood pump and the patient's heart and blood vessel, respectively. The flow cannula further includes an intermediate portion attached to the distal portion and the proximal portion, wherein the intermediate portion allows twisting thereof with a lower force than the distal portion and the proximal portion. The intermediate portion can be fully occluded by twisting it. At least a portion of the intermediate portion either alone or in combination with the distal portion is adapted to be permanently attached to the patient's heart or a blood vessel.

A blood pump for supporting a patient's heart includes a flow cannula having a distal portion including a distal end and a proximal portion including a proximal end opposite the distal end, the distal end of the flow cannula configured to be connected to the patient's heart or a blood vessel to establish fluid communication between the blood pump and the patient's heart and blood vessel, respectively. The flow cannula further includes an intermediate portion attached to the distal portion and the proximal portion, wherein the intermediate portion allows twisting thereof with a lower force than the distal portion and the proximal portion. The intermediate portion can be fully occluded by twisting it. At least a portion of the intermediate portion either alone or in combination with the distal portion is adapted to be permanently attached to the patient's heart or a blood vessel.

Provided herein are methods for in-vivo assessment of intraventricular flow shear stress, risk of hemolysis, also the location and extent of blood flow stasis regions and inside a cardiac chamber or blood vessel. Also provided herein are systems for performing such methods. Also provided herein are methods for assessing hemolysis and/or thrombosis risk in patients implanted with an LVAD. LVAD positioning and/or speed may be adjusted based on the results obtained by using methods described herein, and the risk for hemolysis and/or thrombosis can be minimized.