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 method for treating a patient may include establishing an anastomosis between a pulmonary artery and an aorta; and pumping blood from the pulmonary artery to the aorta when the pulmonary artery has a pressure lower than or equal to a pressure of the aorta.

A coupling system includes an applicator tool and an attachment ring mounted on the applicator tool. Clips are contained within the applicator tool and are deployed through the attachment ring in order to anchor the attachment ring to biological tissue. When deployed, tips of the clips follow a curved trajectory through an annular cuff of the attachment ring and through the underlying tissue. The tips loop back out of the tissue and to a location where they are later trapped or clamped by the attachment ring. While the tips are trapped or clamped, the applicator tool cinches the clips by pulling rear segments of the clips. Thereafter, the applicator tool disconnects from the attachment ring which remains anchored to the tissue and serves as a coupling for a cannula. The cannula can have movable lock members that secure it to the attachment ring.

Integral artificial heart device capable of storing venous blood in dynamic atria, without interrupting the continuous return of the blood. The device comprises a right ventricle (A1) and left ventricle (A2) pulsing simultaneously, and the reactive right atrium (C1) and left atrium (not illustrated) thereof, immersed in a pneumatic spec (D) having a variable vacuum D, which is driven by a solenoid (35), acting sequentially, by repulsion, on the permanent magnet discs (20, 21) included in the elastic ventricular membranes (18, 19), which beat simultaneously in the ventricular spaces (A1) and (A2), and, in the opposite direction, in pneumatic space (D) which houses elastic tubes acting as atria. The device simultaneously ejects systolic volumes, and accepts the proportion of continuously returning venous blood to store in the atria, during the systole, such that said continuous return is not interrupted by sequential systolic closure of the intake ports.

A catheter pump system includes a catheter assembly having a proximal end, a distal end, and an elongate body extending therebetween, the elongate body defining at least an inner lumen; a motor assembly comprising a shaft assembly extending at least partially within the elongate body of the catheter assembly, the shaft assembly configured to rotate about an axis; a flow diverter housing defining a chamber and a fluid pathway through which a proximally-conveyed fluid flows, wherein the shaft assembly extends outward from the chamber into the inner lumen of the elongate body; and a seal mounted to and extending around the shaft assembly, the seal configured to inhibit fluid within the elongate body of the catheter assembly from entering the chamber at least about an outer periphery of the shaft assembly.

A catheter pump system includes a catheter assembly having a proximal end, a distal end, and an elongate body extending therebetween, the elongate body defining at least an inner lumen; a motor assembly comprising a shaft assembly extending at least partially within the elongate body of the catheter assembly, the shaft assembly configured to rotate about an axis; a flow diverter housing defining a chamber and a fluid pathway through which a proximally-conveyed fluid flows, wherein the shaft assembly extends outward from the chamber into the inner lumen of the elongate body; and a seal mounted to and extending around the shaft assembly, the seal configured to inhibit fluid within the elongate body of the catheter assembly from entering the chamber at least about an outer periphery of the shaft assembly.

Apparatus and methods are described including manufacturing an impeller by forming a structure having first and second bushings at proximal and distal ends that are connected to one another by at least one elongate element. The elongate element is made to radially expand and form a helical elongate element. An elastomeric material is coupled to the helical elongate element, such that the helical elongate element with the elastomeric material coupled thereto defines a blade of the impeller. The coupling is performed such that a layer of the material disposed around a radially outer edge of the helical elongate element forms the effective edge of the impeller blade. A step is performed to enhance bonding of the elastomeric material to the helical elongate element in a manner that does not cause a protrusion from the effective edge of the impeller blade. Other applications are also described.

Apparatus and methods are described including manufacturing an impeller by forming a structure having first and second bushings at proximal and distal ends that are connected to one another by at least one elongate element. The elongate element is made to radially expand and form a helical elongate element. An elastomeric material is coupled to the helical elongate element, such that the helical elongate element with the elastomeric material coupled thereto defines a blade of the impeller. The coupling is performed such that a layer of the material disposed around a radially outer edge of the helical elongate element forms the effective edge of the impeller blade. A step is performed to enhance bonding of the elastomeric material to the helical elongate element in a manner that does not cause a protrusion from the effective edge of the impeller blade. Other applications are also described.

A bifurcated cannula for directing blood into the arterial system. The bifurcated cannula including an ingress channel and first and second egress channels. The first egress channel directs a first portion of the blood entering the bifurcated cannula into the arterial system in a first direction. The second egress channel directs a second portion of the blood entering the bifurcated cannula into the arterial system in a direction that opposes the first direction.

Apparatus and methods are described including coupling a rigid tube to a drive cable that comprises a plurality of coiled wires, by placing ends of the drive cable and the rigid tube at a given location within a butt-welding overtube. The ends of the drive cable and the rigid tube are visible when they are disposed at the given location within the butt-welding overtube, via a window defined by the butt-welding overtube. The placement of the drive cable within the butt-welding overtube is such that a helical groove within a portion of the butt-welding overtube is disposed over the drive cable. Welding rings are formed around the butt-welding overtube. Other applications are also described.