Methods for synchronizing the actions of a pulsatile cardiac assist device with a dysfunctional heart using a cardiac pacemaker. Aspects include receiving a signal from the pacemaker and actuating the pulsatile cardiac assist device in response to the signal from the pacemaker to either help push blood out of the heart during systole or to help suck blood from the atria during diastole.

A cardiac assist device including a sleeve configured to externally wrap around a native, intact heart; a motor, and a drive shaft that connects the motor to the sleeve, wherein, actuation of the motor and the drive shaft provides a synchronized assisting force to a pumping force of the native, intact whole heart, thereby helping contraction and expansion of the heart located within an internal volume defined by the sleeve. Some embodiments relate to a system for synchronizing the cardiac assist device with a heart including the cardiac assist device; a power supply connected to the motor; and an electrical connector-relay configured to receive electrical signals from the pacemaker and to generate actuating signals that are relayed to the motor and the drive shaft, wherein, during operation of the system in a subject, the heart is assisted in contracting synchronously with the pacemaker signal rhythm.

At least some embodiments of the disclosure may advantageously limit bleeding and the occurrence of blood leaks after heart pump implantation. In some embodiments, a base may be provided that includes a flexible layer mechanically coupled with a conduit. The flexible layer may be coupled with the proximal end of the conduit. The conduit may be configured to receive a cannula of the heart pump therethrough. The outer surface of the conduit may be configured to engage a surface of the heart formed after coring the heart. The conduit may be metal and may have a flared and/or beveled distal end. The conduit may be a flexible material. A distal flexible layer may be provided at a distal end of the conduit that is configured to engage with an inner surface of the heart.

An implantable heart help method for implantation in a human patient is provided. The device comprising a fixating member adapted to fixate said device to a part of the human body comprising bone. A method of fixating an implantable heart help device in a human patient is provided. The method comprises the steps of: cutting the skin of said human patient, dissecting an area of the body comprising bone, and fixating said implantable heart help device to said part of the body comprising bone.

An implantable heart help method for implantation in a human patient is provided. The device comprising a fixating member adapted to fixate said device to a part of the human body comprising bone. A method of fixating an implantable heart help device in a human patient is provided. The method comprises the steps of: cutting the skin of said human patient, dissecting an area of the body comprising bone, and fixating said implantable heart help device to said part of the body comprising bone.

Embodiments described herein include a modular transcatheterly implantable medical device. The medical device includes a plurality of assemblable blood pumps. Each one of the blood pumps includes a pump unit and an electrical wire configured for the pump unit to be electrically operated through the electrical wire. The medical device also includes an anchor having a first end portion and a second end portion, and the anchor is configured to intraluminally assemble to and intraluminally unassemble from the blood pumps. The medical device also includes a catheter. The catheter is configured to be in a slidable relationship with each one of the electrical wires for intraluminally assembling the blood pumps to the anchor and for intraluminally unassembling the blood pumps from the anchor. The medical device further includes a flexible linker configured to couple the catheter and the anchor.

Embodiments described herein include a modular transcatheterly implantable medical device. The medical device includes a plurality of assemblable blood pumps. Each one of the blood pumps includes a pump unit and an electrical wire configured for the pump unit to be electrically operated through the electrical wire. The medical device also includes an anchor having a first end portion and a second end portion, and the anchor is configured to intraluminally assemble to and intraluminally unassemble from the blood pumps. The medical device also includes a catheter. The catheter is configured to be in a slidable relationship with each one of the electrical wires for intraluminally assembling the blood pumps to the anchor and for intraluminally unassembling the blood pumps from the anchor. The medical device further includes a flexible linker configured to couple the catheter and the anchor.