Described are fluid pumping and fluid handling systems, which may be suitable for use in medical devices, such as artificial or extracorporeal blood pumping systems. The systems can include a dual housing configuration for pneumatic actuation comprising a main housing containing a pump cassette comprising a pneumatically actuated pump and pneumatically actuated valves. The pump can include a pump actuation chamber and pump pneumatic port, and the valves can each include a valve actuation chamber and valve pneumatic port. Connecting tubes can be used to fluidly connect the pump actuation ports and valve actuation ports to a tube-support housing having a first side receiving one end of each connecting tube and a second side providing a pneumatic interface arranged to connect to an array of pneumatic receptacles on a base unit of the system to facilitate easy, compact and accurate pneumatic interconnection between the pump cassette and the base unit.

Embodiments include Ventricular Assist Devices (VADs) with clips that help hold a cannula to the VAD. In some embodiments the clip embraces a cannula that has been placed around a cannula connector. In further embodiments an additional clip connects the first clip to the VAD housing preventing the first clip from slipping. The clip and additional clip may form a single piece. Further embodiments include a blood pumping sac located inside a cavity in the VAD forming one or more air chambers between the sac and the cavity walls, and an airflow channel leading from the air chambers to an airflow port allowing the sac to be evenly pressurized and depressurized. Still further embodiments include one or more purge devices that assist in removing bubbles from the VAD and helping connect cannulas to the VAD. Additional embodiments include a torqueable wrench to facilitate use and proper sealing of the device.

Embodiments include Ventricular Assist Devices (VADs) with clips that help hold a cannula to the VAD. In some embodiments the clip embraces a cannula that has been placed around a cannula connector. In further embodiments an additional clip connects the first clip to the VAD housing preventing the first clip from slipping. The clip and additional clip may form a single piece. Further embodiments include a blood pumping sac located inside a cavity in the VAD forming one or more air chambers between the sac and the cavity walls, and an airflow channel leading from the air chambers to an airflow port allowing the sac to be evenly pressurized and depressurized. Still further embodiments include one or more purge devices that assist in removing bubbles from the VAD and helping connect cannulas to the VAD. Additional embodiments include a torqueable wrench to facilitate use and proper sealing of the device.

Improvements in fluid volume measurement systems are disclosed for a pneumatically actuated diaphragm pump in general, and a peritoneal dialysis cycler using a pump cassette in particular. Pump fluid volume measurements are based on pressure measurements in a pump control chamber and a reference chamber in a two-chamber model, with different sections of the apparatus being modeled using a combination of adiabatic, isothermal and polytropic processes. Real time or instantaneous fluid flow measurements in a pump chamber of a diaphragm pump are also disclosed, in this case using a one-chamber ideal gas model and using a high speed processor to obtain and process pump control chamber pressures during fluid flow into or out of the pump chamber.

An access device for a heart chamber, a removable hemostatic valve unit, and a system including a cardiac assist unit are disclosed. In examples, the access device) includes an apical base plate and a sealing unit configured to provide a separation of a wet zone from a heart chamber and a dry zone with a gaseous environment outside of said heart chamber inside a patient body at the same time.

The application relates to a pump, in particular blood pump. The pump comprises a drive shaft (3) which runs in an axial direction, a delivery element (6) which is connected to the drive shaft (3) in a distal region of this, and a housing (5) which surrounds the delivery element (6). The delivery element (6) and the housing (5) are designed in a manner such that these automatically unfold after a forced compression. The housing (5) moreover comprises an inlet region (22) with at least one inlet opening (23), a fluid-tight region (20) which surrounds a region of the delivery element (6), and an outlet region (24) with at least one opening (23) for the exit of the pump medium. The delivery element (6) is arranged in a manner such that it projects into the outlet region (24).

The application relates to a pump, in particular blood pump. The pump comprises a drive shaft (3) which runs in an axial direction, a delivery element (6) which is connected to the drive shaft (3) in a distal region of this, and a housing (5) which surrounds the delivery element (6). The delivery element (6) and the housing (5) are designed in a manner such that these automatically unfold after a forced compression. The housing (5) moreover comprises an inlet region (22) with at least one inlet opening (23), a fluid-tight region (20) which surrounds a region of the delivery element (6), and an outlet region (24) with at least one opening (23) for the exit of the pump medium. The delivery element (6) is arranged in a manner such that it projects into the outlet region (24).

Systems for monitoring fluid flow in an extracorporeal blood circuit are described. The blood circuit of such systems can include plod pump having a pumping chamber of the blood pump separated from a control chamber of the blood pump by a flexible diaphragm. The control chamber can be configured to transmit positive or negative pressure to operate the diaphragm. The system can include a pressure sensor configured to measure pressure in the control chamber of the blood pump, and a controller configured to receive information from the pressure sensor and to control the delivery of pressure to the control chamber of the blood pump. The controller can also be configured to cause the application of a time-varying pressure waveform on the blood pump diaphragm during a fill-stroke of the blood pump, and to monitor a pressure variation in the control chamber measured by the pressure sensor. When so configured, such controller can transmit a value representing a magnitude of the measured pressure variation to a display associated with the extracorporeal blood circuit.

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 pump-valving assembly for a pulsatile fluid pump includes a pumping chamber, an inlet port, and an outlet port. The pump-valving assembly further includes an inlet ball check-valve assembly, first and second tapered tracts disposed between the inlet port and the pumping chamber, an outlet ball check-valve assembly, and third and fourth tapered tracts disposed between the pumping chamber and outlet port. The first tapered tract expands in cross sectional area from the inlet port to the inlet ball check valve assembly, and the second tapered tract decreases in cross sectional area from the inlet ball check valve assembly to the chamber. The third tapered tract expands in cross sectional area from the chamber to the outlet ball check valve assembly and the fourth tapered tract decreases in cross sectional area from the outlet ball check valve assembly to the outlet port.