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.

A processor of a medical device configured to communicate with a remote server can be programmed to protect the medical device from exposure to unauthorized or malicious software. A system or method to implement this form of protection can include, for example, at least one processor on the medical device, a control software module that controls the operation of the medical device and is executable on the processor, a data management module that manages data flow to and from the control software module from sources external to the medical device, and an agent module that has access to a limited number of designated memory locations in the medical device. In addition, a hemodialysis apparatus can be configured to operate in conjunction with an apparatus for providing purified water from a source such as a municipal water supply or a well. A system for controlling delivery of purified water to the hemodialysis apparatus can comprise a therapy controller of the hemodialysis apparatus configured to communicate with a controller of a water purification device, and a user interface controller of the hemodialysis apparatus configured to communicate with the therapy controller, and to send data to and receive data from a user interface.

Disclosed is an electromechanical device generating bilateral pressure impulses, wherein the alternative and specular movement of the homologous cursors (CV, CO), pacing one of the Cartesian axes, exclusively manages mobile cores (NEM) of electromagnets (EM) with planned solicitation, for supplying the necessary mechanical energy for the correct working of operating machines of different kinds, and in particular of a permanent artificial heart.

A pumping system (200) for controlling the flow of interatrial blood comprises, housed inside a container (201), a control element (30, 30′, 30″) of the interatrial blood flow. The control element comprises: at least one worm screw (31), the rotation of which creates a two-way flow of interatrial blood; or a pair of counter-rotating propellers (31′); or a pair of membranes (31″) whose deformation creates a two-way flow of interatrial blood; or a flexible structure (31″) whose change in volume within the container (201) creates a two-way flow of interatrial blood.

An implant system for restoring and improving physiological intracardiac flow in a human heart is provided including a force transducting, structurally stabilizing, and functionally assisting ventricular inflatable cardiac implant within a human heart for restoring and improving physiologic intracardiac flow, restoring the ventricular vortex, preventing atrioventricular pressure gradient loss, mitigating valvular regurgitation, and utilizing native energy and force, via force transduction, to restore geometric elliptical proportion and function to the atria, the ventricles and ventricular walls, and the valvular apparatus itself.

A blood pumping device comprising at least a first pump and a second pump, and a first and second pump actuating means for inducing a blood flow in a body's circulatory system is disclosed. Each pump comprises one upper chamber having an inlet channel and one lower chamber having an outlet channel. The upper and lower chambers are separated by a movable valve plane provided with a valve. The pump actuating means are configured to apply a movement to said valve plane in an upward and downward direction between said upper and lower chambers in response to control signals from a control unit, such that when said valve plane moves in an upward direction the valve provided in the valve plane is in an open position allowing a flow of blood from the upper chamber to the lower chamber, and when the valve plane moves in a downward direction the valve is in the closed position and blood is ejected from the lower chamber through the outlet channel. The bottom part of the lower chamber is provided with a bag-like portion.

A by-pass shunt for use with a bodily fluid pump. The by-pass shunt includes an inflow conduit, an outflow conduit, and an intermediate conduit fluidically coupling the inflow and outflow conduits. A flow restrictor is operably coupled to a portion of the intermediate conduit and is configured to reduce a fluid flow from the outflow conduit, through the intermediate conduit, and into the inflow conduit.

Cardiac chamber prosthesis configured to be implanted in a cardiac chamber (10; 20; 30; 40) comprising a native outlet valve (50; 60; 70; 80) and at least one inlet aperture (50; 70) selected from the group comprising a native inlet valve (50; 70) and one or more outlet mouths of venae cavae or pulmonary veins (120; 125; 130), wherein the cardiac chamber prosthesis comprises: an inner elastic membrane (250; 255; 260; 650; 750; 850), a reference support elastic membrane structure (200; 205, 225, 290A; 600; 700; 800) comprising or consisting of an outer elastic membrane (200; 205; 600; 700; 800) provided with a plurality of clips (210) configured to grip an inner wall (45) of the cardiac chamber (10; 20; 30; 40), wherein the elastic inner and outer membranes (250, 200; 255, 205; 260, 200; 650, 600; 750, 700; 850, 800) form an outlet border (285; 675; 785; 885) configured to surround and be sutured on the native outlet valve (50; 60; 70; 80) and at least one inlet border (275; 685; 775; 875A, 875B) configured to surround and be sutured on said at least one inlet aperture (50; 70), wherein the inner elastic membrane (250; 255; 260; 650; 750; 850) and the reference support elastic membrane structure (200; 205, 225, 290A; 600; 700; 800) are connected to each other by means of a plurality of primary variable connection elements (290; 290B), whereby the inner elastic membrane (250; 255; 260; 650; 750; 850) and the reference support elastic membrane structure (200; 205, 225, 290A; 600; 700; 800) delimit a primary interspace (230; 230B; 630; 730; 830) between them that is configured to receive a fluid with varying amount and/or pressure so as to dynamically modify a volume of the primary interspace (230; 2303; 630; 730; 830) and said elastically variable volume delimited by the inner surface (254; 654; 754; 854) of the inner elastic membrane (250; 255; 260; 650; 750; 850).

Devices and methods for blood flow enhancement and hemodynamic power monitoring are provided. A blood flow enhancement device includes a pump system configured to be coupled to a central vasculature of a subject during cardiopulmonary resuscitation (CPR). The pump system includes a pumping mechanism configured to increase forward blood flow generated during the CPR while substantially limiting backward blood flow generated during the CPR. The pumping mechanism being operated concurrently with the CPR. The hemodynamic power monitor is configured to control a chest compression device and an active valve.

Devices and methods for blood flow enhancement and hemodynamic power monitoring are provided. A blood flow enhancement device includes a pump system configured to be coupled to a central vasculature of a subject during cardiopulmonary resuscitation (CPR). The pump system includes a pumping mechanism configured to increase forward blood flow generated during the CPR while substantially limiting backward blood flow generated during the CPR. The pumping mechanism being operated concurrently with the CPR. The hemodynamic power monitor is configured to control a chest compression device and an active valve.