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 blood purification apparatus in which the error in the amount of discharge from a blood pump that is caused by the change in the suction pressure of the blood pump is reduced. A blood purification apparatus includes a blood circuit through which blood of a patient is extracorporeally circulated; a dialyzer connected to proximal ends of an arterial blood circuit and a venous blood circuit and that purifies the blood extracorporeally circulating through the blood circuit; a squeezable tube connected to the arterial blood circuit; a blood pump allowing liquid in the squeezable tube to flow by squeezing the squeezable tube in a lengthwise direction while compressing the squeezable tube in a radial direction; and a pressure-detecting device attached to a predetermined position of the arterial blood circuit that is nearer to a distal end than a position where the blood pump is provided, the pressure-detecting device being capable of detecting a suction pressure of the blood pump.

A vascular access tube (2) for a fluid subject to a driving pressure comprises a wall (4) defining a main lumen. A portion of the wall comprises an access port (10) for an object (14) to be introduced through the wall. The access port comprises a biasing structure (12) which provides a self-closing behaviour that is sufficiently strong to remain fluid-tight when exposed to a driving pressure of up to 50 mmHg. The access port is therefore sufficiently fluid-tight to contain pressurised fluid flowing through the vascular access tube.

The present invention provides intracardiac devices and methods of implanting the same. The intracardiac devices have a collapsible stent design and include an axial pump to support cardiac function. The axial pump can feature a shaftless fluid actuator for enhanced efficiency in fluid transfer while reducing blood cell trauma. The intracardiac devices include valves that are closeable to seal implanted devices from a subject's anatomy. The intracardiac devices include a cleaning system configured to introduce and circulate cleaning solutions and therapeutics to implanted devices. The intracardiac devices are wirelessly powered and controlled. The intracardiac devices can be implanted using minimally invasive procedures without the need for open heart surgery.

The present invention provides intracardiac devices and methods of implanting the same. The intracardiac devices have a collapsible stent design and include an axial pump to support cardiac function. The axial pump can feature a shaftless fluid actuator for enhanced efficiency in fluid transfer while reducing blood cell trauma. The intracardiac devices include valves that are closeable to seal implanted devices from a subject's anatomy. The intracardiac devices include a cleaning system configured to introduce and circulate cleaning solutions and therapeutics to implanted devices. The intracardiac devices are wirelessly powered and controlled. The intracardiac devices can be implanted using minimally invasive procedures without the need for open heart surgery.

A catheter device having a catheter (24) in which a rotating shaft (25) which is made at least partially from a magnetic material is arranged, and a separating device which contains an annular body (27) surrounding the rotating shaft and having a cavity containing a magnetic body (13′), the magnetic body being arranged downstream from a point at which the shaft (25) exits the catheter (24) which it surrounds with respect to the direction of flow of the fluid through the catheter.

A catheter device having a catheter (24) in which a rotating shaft (25) which is made at least partially from a magnetic material is arranged, and a separating device which contains an annular body (27) surrounding the rotating shaft and having a cavity containing a magnetic body (13′), the magnetic body being arranged downstream from a point at which the shaft (25) exits the catheter (24) which it surrounds with respect to the direction of flow of the fluid through the catheter.

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.

This document describes stepper motor drive systems. The stepper motor drive systems can be used in many different applications including, for example, to drive a stepper motor of an occluder device in association with a heart-lung machine.

Embodiments of the present invention relate generally to certain types of reciprocating positive-displacement pumps (which may be referred to hereinafter as “pods,” “pump pods,” or “pod pumps”) used to pump fluids, such as a biological fluid (e.g., blood or peritoneal fluid), a therapeutic fluid (e.g., a medication solution), or a surfactant fluid. The pumps may be configured specifically to impart low shear forces and low turbulence on the fluid as the fluid is pumped from an inlet to an outlet. Such pumps may be particularly useful in pumping fluids that may be damaged by such shear forces (e.g., blood, and particularly heated blood, which is prone to hemolysis) or turbulence (e.g., surfectants or other fluids that may foam or otherwise be damaged or become unstable in the presence of turbulence).