In a method for managing a cardiac pump intended to assist the heart of a patient, the cardiac pump sends pressurized blood at a flow rate proportional to the speed of rotation Vrpm of the pump through the aortic valve of the heart. The steps, during a same ventricular systole, include: detecting mitral valve closure, rotational speed Vrpm of the pump being strictly less than a maximum value Vrpm max, increasing Vrpm of the pump such that, at time t2, after the time t corresponding to the closing of the mitral valve, the speed of rotation of the pump is equal, or substantially equal, to the maximum value Vrpm max of the speed of rotation, and keeping the speed of rotation Vrpm of the pump at this maximum value Vrpm max for at least a portion of the time period T during which the aortic valve is open.

The present invention generally relates to heart treatment systems. In some aspects, methods and systems are provided for facilitating communication between implanted devices. For example, an implantable cardiac rhythm management device may be configured to communicate with an implantable blood pump. The implantable cardiac rhythm management device may deliver heart stimulation rate information in addition to information associated with any detected abnormalities in heart function. In response, the pump may be configured to adjust pumping by the pump to better accommodate a patient's particular needs.

Apparatus is provided that is configured to be deployed in a lumen of a blood vessel of a subject. The apparatus includes a pump portion, including an anchor configured to engage a wall of the blood vessel in order to maintain the apparatus in place within the blood vessel, and a reciprocating valve coupled to the anchor and including a set of one or more leaflets. A valve driver is configured to drive the reciprocating valve in a reciprocating pattern between (i) a first state in which the leaflets are in an open configuration allowing blood flow through the reciprocating valve, and (ii) a second state in which the leaflets are in a closed configuration inhibiting blood flow through the reciprocating valve. Other embodiments are also described.

Devices, systems and methods for controlling or preventing left and/or right ventricular overload with and without concurrent extracorporeal life support.

An implantable device adapted for assisting the flow of blood from a left atrium to a descending aorta of an in-vivo heart is provided. The implantable device includes an inlet cannula adapted to be connected to the left atrium and an outlet cannula adapted to be connected to the descending aorta. In one embodiment, the inlet and outlet cannula is in fluid communication with a blood pressure pump. The implantable device further includes a first accelerometer mounted on a housing of the blood pressure pump, wherein the first accelerometer is adapted for measuring mitral valve motion. The implantable device also includes an implanted controller in electrical communication with at least one implanted ECG sensor adapted for detecting ECG signals, wherein the at least one implanted ECG sensor is positioned between the blood pressure pump and the implanted controller and the implanted controller also includes a processor adapted to analyse detected ECG signals and the mitral valve motion. In one embodiment, the processor dynamically adjusts the target blood pressure pump speed based on ECG signals and mitral valve motion such that the blood flows from left atrium to both left ventricle and descending aorta.

An implantable device adapted for assisting the flow of blood from a left atrium to a descending aorta of an in-vivo heart is provided. The implantable device includes an inlet cannula adapted to be connected to the left atrium and an outlet cannula adapted to be connected to the descending aorta. In one embodiment, the inlet and outlet cannula is in fluid communication with a blood pressure pump. The implantable device further includes a first accelerometer mounted on a housing of the blood pressure pump, wherein the first accelerometer is adapted for measuring mitral valve motion. The implantable device also includes an implanted controller in electrical communication with at least one implanted ECG sensor adapted for detecting ECG signals, wherein the at least one implanted ECG sensor is positioned between the blood pressure pump and the implanted controller and the implanted controller also includes a processor adapted to analyse detected ECG signals and the mitral valve motion. In one embodiment, the processor dynamically adjusts the target blood pressure pump speed based on ECG signals and mitral valve motion such that the blood flows from left atrium to both left ventricle and descending aorta.

A method of operating an implantable blood pump and a pacing device, the method includes determining an end diastolic volume (EDV) and ejection fraction of one from the group consisting of the right ventricle and the left ventricle at a predetermined pump set speed. An average flow rate based on the predetermined pump set speed is determined. A target heart rate based at least in part on the determined EDV, ejection fraction, and average flow rate is determined. A lower rate for the pacing device is determined, the pacing device being in electrical communication with a chamber of the heart. The chamber of the heart is paced when a measured heart rate drops below the lower rate.

The present invention concerns a device for the ventricular emergency support, comprising: a first flexible catheter (2), with a variable transversal section, provided with an extremal balloon (7) for the controlled occlusion of the ascending aorta (AA) of the treated patient; a first pump (12), associated to said first catheter (2) for the aspiration and contemporary input of equivalent blood quantifies into the blood circle of the treated patient; a second flexible catheter (32), with a fixed transversal section, provided with a couple of extremal balloons (34), spaced apart, for the controlled occlusion of the inferior vena cava (CA) and of the superior vena cava (CD) of the treated patient; a second pump (35), associated to said first and second catheter (2, 32) for inflating and deflating said extremal balloons (7, 34) of said first and second catheter (2, 32); an electronic control unit (36) for adjusting and controlling the operational parameters of said first and second pump (12, 35), and for the detection of the cardiac parameters of the treated patient; rechargeable or network means (37, 38) for the power supply of above mentioned components.

Systems and methods for generating blood flow with a pump incorporating linear bearing technology are provided. The pump may include an actuator assembly, a moving assembly, and a linear hydrodynamic or thin-film bearing positioned within a housing. The moving assembly may include at least one magnet and the actuator assembly may include a magnetic assembly for selectively generating a magnetic field to cause linear reciprocating movement of the moving assembly with respect to the actuator assembly. The linear hydrodynamic or thin-film bearing may include a bearing portion on the moving assembly that is in fluid communication with a bearing portion on the actuator assembly or pump housing. The system may involve an implantable pump, an extracorporeal battery and a controller coupled to the implantable pump. The implantable pump may be suitable for use as a left ventricular assist device (LVAD).

An intra-ventricular pulsatile assist system is provided including an intra-ventricular blood pump including a chamber having a distal portion and a proximal portion opposite the distal portion, the proximal portion and the distal portion defining an axis extending therebetween and the distal portion defining an outlet; a valve at the distal portion of the chamber, the valve including a closed position in which the outlet is sealed and an open position in which the outlet is unsealed; and a control circuit including a processor in communication with the blood pump, the processor having processing circuitry configured to determine a pressure value in the chamber and transition the valve between the closed position and the open position when the pressure value in the chamber deviates from a predetermined threshold value.