A surgical or laparoscopic method of creating and maintaining an opening in the thoracic diaphragm of a patient. The method comprising the steps of creating an incision in the thoracic diaphragm and thereby creating an opening in the thoracic diaphragm, placing a diaphragm passing part in said opening created in the thoracic diaphragm, passing from the abdomen through the thoracic diaphragm and into the thorax; wherein the step of placing said diaphragm passing part comprises placing a force transferring part of the diaphragm passing part in contact with the thoracic diaphragm, the force transferring part being adapted to transfer force between the abdominal side of the thoracic diaphragm and the thoracic side of the thoracic diaphragm while sliding against the thoracic diaphragm.

An implantable heart help device adapted 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. Further 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.

The invention relates to a catheter assembly for the intermittent occlusion of the coronary sinus (CS, 60). The catheter assembly comprises a shaft (17, 126). The shaft (17, 126) has a plurality of lumens (7A, 7B, 35, 38, 40, 40A, 40B), a distal end (22) with a distal tip (20A, 20B, 20C), an occlusion device (24, 56, 142) fixed to the distal tip (20A, 20B, 20C) and operable through at least one of the plurality of lumens (7A, 7B, 35, 38, 40, 40A, 40B) and a proximal handle (10). The catheter assembly further having at least one of the following: the occlusion device (24, 142) having a diameter of 5 - 20 mm and adapted to occlude the coronary sinus ostium, means of measuring the pressure at the distal tip (20 a, 20B, 20C) of the catheter assembly and distally to the occlusion device (24, 142), preferably using an optical pressure sensor (28), an anchoring device (30, 54, 65, 80, 90A, 122) for anchoring the occlusion device (24, 142) in a predefined position in the coronary sinus (CS, 60), preferably in the ostium, the distal end (22) being deflectable/steerable with deflection being controlled by an actuator arranged at the proximal handle (10).

The disclosed system and method generally involve using guidewire imaging technology to create a three-dimensional image or map of the vessels all the way from an insertion site to the heart. This imaging provides useful landmarks and information about tortuosity and position. The method then measures pump and/or pump catheter position during insertion using direct or indirect techniques. This pump position can then be overlayed onto the three-dimensional image or map created by the guidewire to determine inflow position in the vessel, the proximity to key landmarks, and assist in the delivery without fluoroscopy.

The disclosed system and method generally involve using guidewire imaging technology to create a three-dimensional image or map of the vessels all the way from an insertion site to the heart. This imaging provides useful landmarks and information about tortuosity and position. The method then measures pump and/or pump catheter position during insertion using direct or indirect techniques. This pump position can then be overlayed onto the three-dimensional image or map created by the guidewire to determine inflow position in the vessel, the proximity to key landmarks, and assist in the delivery without fluoroscopy.

A perfusion sheath with covered perfusion apertures. The covers each have a pull affixed thereto. The pull is used to remove a perfusion aperture cover from a perfusion aperture when the perfusion sheath is deployed in a patient. The perfusion sheath is deployed in the patient through an arteriotomy. When deployed the pull or pulls extend out of the arteriotomy. Exerting a tension on the pulls causes the pull to tear away the perfusion aperture cover from the perfusion aperture. The perfusion sheath has a plurality of perfusion apertures, each positioned to provide limb perfusion, when the cover is removed for different depths of arteriotomy. Once the perfusion sheath is deployed, the pull is tensioned to remove the cover from a selected perfusion aperture that will provide limb perfusion for the depth of the arteriotomy.

Methods and apparatus for determining whether a circulatory support device is correctly positioned in a heart of a patient are provided. The method comprises receiving a motor current signal from a motor of the circulatory support device, receiving a pressure signal from a pressure sensor arranged on the circulatory support device, generating a normalized motor current signal based, at least in part, on the pressure signal, determining a pulsatility of the normalized motor current signal, determining whether the circulatory support device is correctly positioned in the heart of the patient based, at least in part, on the pulsatility of the normalized motor current signal, and outputting an alarm when it is determined that the circulatory support device is not correctly positioned in the heart of the patient.

A cardiac device for implantation proximate an exterior of a heart, the cardiac device including an inflatable bladder including an inner wall and an outer wall, wherein the inner wall itself is more expandable than the outer wall itself such that the inflatable bladder itself is configured to deform substantially inwardly to exert localized pressure against a region of the heart when the inflatable bladder is positioned adjacent the region of the heart and inflated.

A cardiac device for implantation proximate an exterior of a heart, the cardiac device including an inflatable bladder including an inner wall and an outer wall, wherein the inner wall itself is more expandable than the outer wall itself such that the inflatable bladder itself is configured to deform substantially inwardly to exert localized pressure against a region of the heart when the inflatable bladder is positioned adjacent the region of the heart and inflated.

Catheter blood pumps that include a pump portion with an impeller. The blood pumps include an axially extendable member with a distal end that is disposed further distally than the distal end of the impeller, and a guide member extending through the pump portion and axially moveable relative to the pump portion, the guide member inoperable axial communication with the extendable member such that axial movement of the guide member causes axial movement of the extendable member relative to the pump portion.