Membranes are provided to be specially developed for use in chambers for artificial circulatory assistance which may be employed primarily in cardiovascular procedures, notably to produce arterial capacitance, to regulate blood pressure, to produce aortic counterpulsation and to pump blood. The membrane may have circular sections that may vary in size or not depending on the function to be performed and are interconnected so that the transition between one section and the other is smooth, regardless of the size of each section. Further, chambers and pumps may be used for cardiopulmonary bypass and a pumping system.

A blood pump comprising a cartridge, the cartridge comprising a first recess therein, said first recess having a surface, and a flexible diaphragm closing said first recess, the first recess and the flexible diaphragm defining a first pump chamber, said first pump chamber having an inlet and an outlet wherein the flexible diaphragm of the first pump chamber is movable between a first position, separated in use from the surface of the first recess, in which said first pump chamber has a maximum volume, and a second position, substantially adjacent to the surface of the first recess, in which said first pump chamber has a minimum volume a pump driver arranged to interface with the cartridge, said pump driver operable to move the flexible diaphragm of the first pump chamber in a first direction into said first recess to, in use, pump blood from the chamber and to move the flexible diaphragm of the first pump chamber in a second direction away from the first recess to, in use, draw blood into said first pump chamber, wherein the pump driver controls the movement of the flexible diaphragm of the first pump chamber such that the flexible diaphragm of the first pump chamber moves toward said first position at a first speed and moves toward said second position at a second speed, said second speed being greater than said first speed.

A ventricular assist device includes a cannula including a lumen. An inlet valve on the cannula is in communication with the lumen. An outlet valve on the cannula is in communication with the lumen. A pump is connected to the lumen and adapted to draw blood through the inlet valve from the ventricle into the lumen and deliver blood from the lumen through the outlet valve into an aorta or pulmonary artery of the a patient into which the device is implanted. The ventricular assist device also includes an anchor including (a) a graft adapted to receive and hold the cannula and (b) an anchor retainer carried on a first end of the graft and adapted to secure the anchor to the ventricle wall.

A ventricular assist device includes a cannula including a lumen. An inlet valve on the cannula is in communication with the lumen. An outlet valve on the cannula is in communication with the lumen. A pump is connected to the lumen and adapted to draw blood through the inlet valve from the ventricle into the lumen and deliver blood from the lumen through the outlet valve into an aorta or pulmonary artery of the a patient into which the device is implanted. The ventricular assist device also includes an anchor including (a) a graft adapted to receive and hold the cannula and (b) an anchor retainer carried on a first end of the graft and adapted to secure the anchor to the ventricle wall.

Dialysis systems are disclosed comprising new fluid flow circuits. Systems may include blood and dialysate flow paths, where the dialysate flow path includes balancing, mixing, and/or directing circuits. Dialysate preparation may be decoupled from patient dialysis. Circuits may be defined within one or more cassettes. The fluid circuit fluid flow paths may be isolated from electrical components. A gas supply in fluid communication with the dialysate flow path and/or the dialyzer able to urge dialysate through the dialyzer and urge blood back to the patient may be included for certain emergency situations Fluid handling devices, such as pumps, valves, and mixers that can be actuated using a control fluid, may be included. Control fluid may be delivered by an external pump or other device, which may be detachable and/or generally rigid, optionally with a diaphragm dividing the device into first and second compartments.

Dialysis systems are disclosed comprising new fluid flow circuits. Systems may include blood and dialysate flow paths, where the dialysate flow path includes balancing, mixing, and/or directing circuits. Dialysate preparation may be decoupled from patient dialysis. Circuits may be defined within one or more cassettes. The fluid circuit fluid flow paths may be isolated from electrical components. A gas supply in fluid communication with the dialysate flow path and/or the dialyzer able to urge dialysate through the dialyzer and urge blood back to the patient may be included for certain emergency situations. Fluid handling devices, such as pumps, valves, and mixers that can be actuated using a control fluid may be included. Control fluid may be delivered by an external pump or other device, which may be detachable and/or generally rigid, optionally with a diaphragm dividing the device into first and second compartments.

Dialysis systems are disclosed comprising new fluid flow circuits. Systems may include blood and dialysate flow paths, where the dialysate flow path includes balancing, mixing, and/or directing circuits. Dialysate preparation may be decoupled from patient dialysis. Circuits may be defined within one or more cassettes. The fluid circuit fluid flow paths may be isolated from electrical components. A gas supply in fluid communication with the dialysate flow path and/or the dialyzer able to urge dialysate through the dialyzer and urge blood back to the patient may be included for certain emergency situations. Fluid handling devices, such as pumps, valves, and mixers that can be actuated using a control fluid may be included. Control fluid may be delivered by an external pump or other device, which may be detachable and/or generally rigid, optionally with a diaphragm dividing the device into first and second compartments.

A drive unit for a diaphragm pump may be provided, wherein the drive unit comprises a hollow body and a piston which is arranged so as to be movable in the first hollow body along an axis of the hollow body, wherein the piston divides the hollow body into a first chamber, which is connectable to the diaphragm pump, and a second chamber, which is coupleable to a gas reservoir. The second chamber comprises an inlet valve and an outlet valve, such that a gas flow is drawn into the chamber via the inlet valve and is forced out of the chamber via the outlet valve.

A drive unit for a diaphragm pump may be provided, wherein the drive unit comprises a hollow body and a piston which is arranged so as to be movable in the first hollow body along an axis of the hollow body, wherein the piston divides the hollow body into a first chamber, which is connectable to the diaphragm pump, and a second chamber, which is coupleable to a gas reservoir. The second chamber comprises an inlet valve and an outlet valve, such that a gas flow is drawn into the chamber via the inlet valve and is forced out of the chamber via the outlet valve.

Dialysis systems are disclosed comprising new fluid flow circuits. Systems may include blood and dialysate flow paths, where the dialysate flow path includes balancing, mixing, and/or directing circuits. Dialysate preparation may be decoupled from patient dialysis. Circuits may be defined within one or more cassettes. The fluid circuit fluid flow paths may be isolated from electrical components. A gas supply in fluid communication with the dialysate flow path and/or the dialyzer able to urge dialysate through the dialyzer and urge blood back to the patient may be included for certain emergency situations. Fluid handling devices, such as pumps, valves, and mixers that can be actuated using a control fluid may be included. Control fluid may be delivered by an external pump or other device, which may be detachable and/or generally rigid, optionally with a diaphragm dividing the device into first and second compartments.