An introducer sheath for using in delivering a device includes a proximal end opposite a distal end and a body portion, the body portion defining a lumen of the introducer sheath configured for receiving the device, a first portion of the introducer sheath having a compressed configuration defined by a compressed diameter and an expanded configuration defined by an expanded diameter, and at least one actuator configured for transitioning the first portion from the compressed diameter to the expanded diameter.

Materials and methods related to blood pump systems are described. These can be used in patients to, for example, monitor arterial pressure, measure blood flow, maintain left ventricular pressure within a particular range, avoid left ventricular collapse, prevent fusion of the aortic valve in a subject having a blood pump, and provide a means to wean a patient from a blood pump.

Materials and methods related to blood pump systems are described. These can be used in patients to, for example, monitor arterial pressure, measure blood flow, maintain left ventricular pressure within a particular range, avoid left ventricular collapse, prevent fusion of the aortic valve in a subject having a blood pump, and provide a means to wean a patient from a blood pump.

The invention relates to a controller unit (100) and method for controlling a cardiac prosthesis (200). The prosthesis comprising: at least one pump portion (202, 203, 602, 702); an inlet (210, 610, 710) connected to said at least one pump portion; an outlet (213, 613, 713) connected to said at least one pump portion; a pressure sensor (231; 232) configured to measure pressure of a fluid flowing from the inlet to the outlet; a pump actuator (221, 222) configured to induce the flow of the fluid flow. The controller unit further comprises a memory and a processing unit, wherein the controller unit is configured to: obtain a pressure value from the pressure sensor, obtain a desired value for the pressure of the fluid flowing into the pump, calculate an error signal equal to the difference of desired value for the pressure and the measured pressure, and control the output of the pump such that the measured pressure is near or equal to the desired pressure, by controlling a pump stroke rate and/or a pump stroke volume.

The present invention provides an intravascular right ventricular assist device, i.e., the cavo-arterial pump (CAP). Two prototypes of the CAP were developed, including a direct drive CAP and a magnetic drive CAP, demonstrating the feasibility of providing adequate pulmonary support and the feasibility of using axial magnetic couplings for contactless torque transmission from the motor shaft to the pump impeller. The magnetic drive CAP was able to operate up to 18.5 kRPM and produce a maximum flow rate of 1.35 L/min and a maximum pressure head of 40 mm Hg.

A catheter pump includes an elongate cannula with a formed mesh structure extending cylindrically between opposing ends thereof. The formed mesh structure defines a pattern configured to be stably expandable and collapsible without fracturing in a percutaneous delivery and re-sheathing in the provision of mechanical circulatory support of a patient’s heart.

A catheter pump includes an elongate cannula with a formed mesh structure extending cylindrically between opposing ends thereof. The formed mesh structure defines a pattern configured to be stably expandable and collapsible without fracturing in a percutaneous delivery and re-sheathing in the provision of mechanical circulatory support of a patient’s heart.

A blood pump system including an optical sensor configured to detect an optical signal during pumping operation of the blood pump, and an optical fiber configured to transmit the optical signal from the optical fiber sensor to an evaluation device communicatively coupled to the optical fiber sensor. The evaluation device is configured to receive as inputs the transmitted optical signal and a signal indicative of the motor current and determine a mechanical failure event associated with the blood pump based on the motor current and the optical signal.

A catheter pump assembly is provided that includes a proximal a distal portion, a catheter body, an impeller, and a flow modifying structure. The catheter body has a lumen that extends along a longitudinal axis between the proximal and distal portions. The impeller is disposed at the distal portion. The impeller includes a blade with a trailing edge. The flow modifying structure is disposed downstream of the impeller. The flow modifying structure has a plurality of blades having a leading edge substantially parallel to and in close proximity to the trailing edge of the blade of the impeller and an expanse extending downstream from the leading edge. In some embodiments, the expanse has a first region with higher curvature and a second region with lower curvature. The first region is between the leading edge and the second region.

A medical device including an artificial contractile structure which may be advantageously used to assist the functioning of a hollow organ. Specifically, the medical device includes an artificial contractile structure with at least one contractile element adapted to contract an organ, in such way that the contractile element is in a resting or in an activated position, at least one actuator designed to activate the contractile structure, and at least one source of energy for powering the actuator. The medical device also includes a means for reducing corrosion of the medical device hence reducing the risk of the device dysfunction and patient contamination.