A minimally invasive circulatory support platform that utilizes an aortic stent pump or pumps. The platform uses a low profile catheter-based techniques and provides temporary and chronic circulatory support depending on the needs of the patient. Further described is a wirelessly powered circulatory assist pump for providing chronic circulatory support for heart failure patients. The platform and system are relatively easy to place, have higher flow rates than existing systems, and provide improvements in the patient’s renal function.

The present invention relates to surgical or laparoscopic method of creating and maintaining an opening in the thoracic diaphragm of a patient. In said method, an incision in the thoracic diaphragm is created, thereby creating an opening in the thoracic diaphragm. Further a diaphragm passing part is placed in said opening created in the thoracic diaphragm, passing from the abdomen, through the thoracic diaphragm at the pericardial contacting section, into the pericardium; When placing the diaphragm passing part a force transferring part of the diaphragm passing part is placed in contact with the thoracic diaphragm, the force transferring part being adapted to, by motion of the force transferring part, transfer force between the abdominal side of the thoracic diaphragm and the thoracic side of the thoracic diaphragm or the pericardium while sliding against the thoracic diaphragm.

A method and apparatus related to detecting the presence of a power transfer coil implanted in a patient are disclosed. According to the aspect, an external device of a medical implant system is provided, the external device having an external coil and processing circuitry. The processing circuitry is configured to monitor a resonance frequency associated with the external coil. When the resonance frequency changes as a distance between the external coil and an expected location of an internal coil, then the processing circuitry is configured to conclude that the internal coil has been detected. When the resonance frequency ramps up to a steady state value at a rate that falls below a rate threshold, then the processing circuitry is configured to conclude that the internal coil is connected to an internal load.

The present invention relates to surgical or laparoscopic method of creating and maintaining an opening in the thoracic diaphragm of a patient. In said method, an incision in the thoracic diaphragm is created, thereby creating an opening in the thoracic diaphragm. Further a diaphragm passing part is placed in said opening created in the thoracic diaphragm, passing from the abdomen, through the thoracic diaphragm at the pericardial contacting section, into the pericardium; When placing the diaphragm passing part a force transferring part of the diaphragm passing part is placed in contact with the thoracic diaphragm, the force transferring part being adapted to, by motion of the force transferring part, transfer force between the abdominal side of the thoracic diaphragm and the thoracic side of the thoracic diaphragm or the pericardium while sliding against the thoracic diaphragm.

Methods and apparatus for wireless power transfer and communications are provided. In one embodiment, a wireless power transfer system comprises an external transmit resonator configured to transmit wireless power, an implantable receive resonator configured to receive the transmitted wireless power from the transmit resonator, and a user interface device comprising a resonant coil circuit, the resonant coil circuit being configured to receive magnetic communication signals from the transmit resonator or the receive resonator and to display information relating to the magnetic communication signals to a user of the user interface device.

Methods and apparatus for wireless power transfer and communications are provided. In one embodiment, a wireless power transfer system comprises an external transmit resonator configured to transmit wireless power, an implantable receive resonator configured to receive the transmitted wireless power from the transmit resonator, and a user interface device comprising a resonant coil circuit, the resonant coil circuit being configured to receive magnetic communication signals from the transmit resonator or the receive resonator and to display information relating to the magnetic communication signals to a user of the user interface device.

A minimally invasive circulatory support platform that utilizes an aortic stent pump or pumps. The platform uses a low profile catheter-based techniques and provides temporary and chronic circulatory support depending on the needs of the patient. Further described is a wirelessly powered circulatory assist pump for providing chronic circulatory support to, for example, heart failure patients. The platform and system are relatively easy to place, have higher flow rates than existing systems, and provide improvements in the patient's renal function.

Described herein are devices and methods for pumping blood in a patient in need of circulatory assistance or a replacement heart. Instead of providing a temporary solution for these patients, the devices may be permanently implanted. The devices linearly reciprocate a shuttle within a housing to move blood into and out of the housing, and rotate the shuttle to selectively direct the movement of blood into and out of a plurality of ports in the housing.

Described herein are devices and methods for pumping blood in a patient in need of circulatory assistance or a replacement heart. Instead of providing a temporary solution for these patients, the devices may be permanently implanted. The devices linearly reciprocate a shuttle within a housing to move blood into and out of the housing, and rotate the shuttle to selectively direct the movement of blood into and out of a plurality of ports in the housing.

A minimally invasive circulatory support device, system, and related methods. The circulatory assist devices, systems, and methods use low profile catheter-based techniques and provide temporary and chronic circulatory support depending on the needs of the patient. The circulatory assist device, systems, and methods include a stent cage and an impeller. The stent cage is formed of a first material that is sufficiently rigid to expand radially outward and press against an artery wall is sufficiently deformable to collapse within the outer sheath. The impeller includes at least one blade formed of a second material that is sufficiently rigid to expand and retain shape while rotating and assisting blood to flow within the artery and is sufficiently deformable to collapse within the outer sheath with the stent cage.