The present invention is generally related to methods and systems for preventing onset or worsening of RHF in patients with implanted ventricular assist devices. More particularly, the present invention relates to identifying patients at risk for RHF following implantation of a ventricular assist device based on pulmonary artery pressure measurement and/or trends and adjusting a pump operating parameter to prevent or reduce the onset or worsening of RHF in such patients, improve patient outcomes, or reduce mortality risks associated with VAD implantation. In particular, a pump operating parameter may be adjusted to reduce or minimize particularly high pressure loads on a patient's heart or amount of time the patient is exposed to such high pressure loads following implantation.

Embodiments in the present disclosure relate to an anchoring and centering device for a circulatory support pump. An exemplary apparatus comprises an expandable anchoring device extending along a longitudinal axis, wherein the expandable anchoring device is arranged about a central axis. A distal portion of the expandable anchoring device defines an annulus through which the cardiac pump can be arranged and to which the cardiac pump can be releasable coupled. A proximal portion of the expandable anchoring device is configured to circumferentially expand to an unconstrained configuration that has a cross-sectional diameter greater than a diameter of the annulus. The exemplary apparatus also includes a constraining member arranged over the expandable anchoring device to constrain the expandable anchoring device in a constrained configuration for delivery of the anchoring apparatus.

An apparatus is disclosed including: an intracardiac pump device having a path for a guidewire extending through the pump device from a first opening to a second opening; and a lumen which extends from a first end located outside of the pump device, into the pump device through the first opening in the pump device, along the path for the guidewire, out of the pump device through the second opening, and to a second end located outside of the pump device. The lumen is configured to receive the guidewire such that when the guidewire passes through the lumen from the first end to the second end, the guidewire is positioned along the path.

An apparatus is disclosed including: an intracardiac pump device having a path for a guidewire extending through the pump device from a first opening to a second opening; and a lumen which extends from a first end located outside of the pump device, into the pump device through the first opening in the pump device, along the path for the guidewire, out of the pump device through the second opening, and to a second end located outside of the pump device. The lumen is configured to receive the guidewire such that when the guidewire passes through the lumen from the first end to the second end, the guidewire is positioned along the path.

The invention generally relates to improved medical blood pump devices, systems, and methods. For example, blood pumps may be provided that include a housing defining a blood flow path between an inlet and an outlet. A rotor may be positioned in the blood flow path. A motor stator may be driven to rotate the rotor to provide the blood flow through the pump. Axial and/or tilt stabilization components may be provided to increase an axial and/or tilt stabilization of the rotor within the blood flow path. In some embodiments, biasing forces are provided that urge the rotor toward a bearing component. The biasing force may be provided by adjusting drive signals of the motor stator. Additionally, or alternatively, one or more magnets (e.g., permanent/stator magnets) may be provided to bias the rotor in the upstream and/or downstream direction (e.g., toward a bearing (chamfer, step, conical), or the like).

The invention relates to a fluid pump comprising at least one impeller blade (1, 1′, 1″) which is rotatable about an axis of rotation (3) and conveys a fluid in operation and comprising a support device (4, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 12, 12′, 13, 13′, 14, 14′, 15, 17) which supports the at least one impeller blade (1, 1′, 1″) in at least one support region, wherein the support device is change-able between a first state in which the rotor is radially compressed and a second state in which the rotor is radially expanded; and wherein at least one impeller blade extends at least partly radially inwardly with respect to the axis of rotation (3) from the support region/support regions in the radially expanded state of the rotor.

Mammalian body implantable fluid flow influencing device, comprising a modular impeller having: An impeller hub module dimensioned and shaped to be deliverable to a delivery site within a conduit of a conduit system of the mammalian body via a catheter. An impeller vane module having at least a portion of an impeller vane; having, with respect to the impeller hub module, an assembled configuration in which the impeller vane module mates with the impeller hub module, and an unassembled configuration, in which the impeller vane module is unmated with the impeller hub module and being dimensioned and shaped to be deliverable to the delivery site via the catheter when in the unassembled configuration. The modular impeller being formed when the impeller vane module is retained in its assembled configuration, and dimensioned and shaped to be operable within at least one conduit of the conduit system. Method of implantation disclosed.

A catheter pump is disclosed. The catheter pump can include an impeller and a catheter body having a lumen in which waste fluid flows proximally therethrough during operation of the catheter pump. The catheter pump can also include a drive shaft disposed inside the catheter body. A motor assembly can include a chamber. The motor assembly can include a rotor disposed in the at least a portion of the chamber, the rotor mechanically coupled with a proximal portion of the drive shaft such that rotation of the rotor causes the drive shaft to rotate, the rotor including a longitudinal rotor lumen therethrough. The motor assembly can also comprise a stator assembly disposed about the rotor. During operation of the catheter pump, the waste fluid flows from the lumen into the chamber such that at least a portion of the waste fluid flows proximally through the longitudinal rotor lumen.

A catheter pump is disclosed. The catheter pump can include an impeller and a catheter body having a lumen in which waste fluid flows proximally therethrough during operation of the catheter pump. The catheter pump can also include a drive shaft disposed inside the catheter body. A motor assembly can include a chamber. The motor assembly can include a rotor disposed in the at least a portion of the chamber, the rotor mechanically coupled with a proximal portion of the drive shaft such that rotation of the rotor causes the drive shaft to rotate, the rotor including a longitudinal rotor lumen therethrough. The motor assembly can also comprise a stator assembly disposed about the rotor. During operation of the catheter pump, the waste fluid flows from the lumen into the chamber such that at least a portion of the waste fluid flows proximally through the longitudinal rotor lumen.

A control device (100) for controlling the rotational speed (n.sub.VAD(t)) of a non-pulsatile ventricular assist device, VAD, (50) uses an event-based within-a-beat control strategy, wherein the control device is configured to alter the rotational speed of the VAD within the cardiac cycle of the assisted heart and to synchronize the alteration of the rotational speed with the heartbeat by at least one sequence of trigger signals (σ(t)) that is related to at least one predetermined characteristic event in the cardiac cycle. Further, a VAD (50) for assistance of a heart comprises the control device (100) for controlling the VAD, wherein the VAD is preferably a non-pulsatile rotational, for example catheter-based, blood pump.