A control circuit for controlling a supply of power to an external electronics module for controlling an implanted device of the user, the control circuit electrically coupled to a switching circuit for controlling an electrical connection between an external power source, a battery, and an external electronics module, the control circuit further electrically coupled to a sensor for sensing at least one from the group consisting of a voltage and a current received from the external power source, the control circuit being configured to control the switching circuit to electrically disconnect the external electronics module from the external power source and electrically connect the external electronics module to the battery in response to a sensed fluctuation of at least one from the group consisting of voltage and current and electrically connect the external electronics module to the external power source and electrically disconnect the external electronics module from the battery when the fluctuation is not sensed.

A connector for connecting an implant device to tissue of a person's body. The connector including a frame having first and second arms. The first and second arms define an opening, where at least a portion of the implant device is inserted through the opening. After insertion, an additional securing member is connected to the frame. The securing member is adapted to receive at least one suture to secure the frame to the tissue. The connector includes an adjuster that is movably connected to the first and second arms, where the adjuster is operable to cause the first and second arms to move toward each other and engage the implant device.

The invention relates to a device for circulatory support of the heart and to a corresponding method with a holding means which is configured such that it can be implanted intracardially in the left and/or right ventricular outflow tract of the heart by means of a catheter, preferably using an endovascular method, through a femoral access and/or a percutaneous transventricular, transseptal, transapical or transvenous access, wherein the holding means comprises an anchoring means which can be fixed in the subcommissural triangle underneath the aortic valve and the pulmonary valve, respectively in the flow direction of the blood on the ventricular side of the aortic valve and the pulmonary valve, respectively, a pump which is configured such that it can be fixed in the holding means by means of a catheter, preferably using an endovascular method, through a femoral access and/or a percutaneous transventricular, transseptal, transapical or transvenous access, wherein the pump (a) can either be inserted releasably into the holding means after the holding means has been fixed by means of the anchoring means in the subcommissural triangles underneath the aortic valve and the pulmonary valve, respectively or (b) is firmly connected to the collapsible and expandable anchoring means.

Methods, systems, and devices for an adaptable blood pump are disclosed herein. The blood pump can be part of a mechanical circulatory support system that can include a system controller and the blood pump. The blood pump can include a rotary motor and a control unit that can communicate with the system controller. The blood pump can determine when communication with the system controller is established or has been lost. The blood pump can retrieve one or several back-up parameters when communication with the system controller has been lost, and can operate according to these back-up parameters.

Apparatus for use with a ventricular assist device that is assisting cardiac function of a biological subject, the apparatus including an electronic processing device that determines a flow rate of blood through the ventricular assist device, analyses the flow rate to determine a flow parameter value at least partially indicative of a change in the flow rate during diastole; and uses the flow parameter value to either derive at least one blood pressure parameter value at least partially indicative of a blood pressure in the biological subject or control the ventricular assist device.

An implantable cardiovascular blood pump system is provided, suitable for use as a left ventricular assist device (LVAD) system, having an implantable cardiovascular pump, an extracorporeal battery and a controller coupled to the implantable pump, and a programmer selectively periodically coupled to the controller to configure and adjust operating parameters of the implantable cardiovascular pump. The implantable cardiovascular blood pump includes a coaxial inflow cannula and outflow cannula in fluid communication with one another and with a pumping mechanism. The pumping mechanism may be a vibrating membrane pump which may include a flexible membrane coupled to an electromagnetic actuator assembly that causes wavelike undulations to propagate along the flexible membrane to propel blood through the implantable cardiovascular pump. The implantable cardiovascular pump may be programmed to operate at frequencies and duty cycles that mimic physiologic flow rates and pulsatility while avoiding thrombus formation, hemolysis and/or platelet activation.

An introducer assembly includes an elongate sheath sized for insertion into a blood vessel of a patient and a hub. The hub can be coupled to a proximal portion of the sheath and can include a first hub portion and a second hub portion. The hub can include various features to facilitate breaking apart or separating the introducer assembly from a patient. For example, the first hub portion can have a first notch which can facilitate breaking, splitting, or fracturing the hub. The second hub portion can partially surround the first hub portion and can include two wings and an opening disposed above the first notch. The first hub portion can be formed from a first material and second hub portion can be formed from a second material. In some embodiments, the second material can be stiffer than the first material to facilitate fracturing the hub.

An axial-flow blood pump includes a housing having an inlet and an outlet opposite therefrom. An impeller located within the housing is suspended during operation by magnetic forces between magnets or magnetized regions of the impeller and a motor stator surrounding the housing, and hydrodynamic thrust forces generated by a flow of blood between the housing and a plurality of hydrodynamic thrust bearing surfaces located on the impeller. A volute may be in fluid-tight connection with the outlet of the housing for receiving blood in the axial direction and directing blood in a direction normal to the axial direction. The volute has a flow-improving member extending axially from the volute and into the housing in a coaxial direction of the housing.

A heart assist device comprising a rotary pump housing having a cylindrical bore, a pumping chamber and a motor stator including an electrically conductive coil located within the housing and surrounding a portion of the cylindrical bore. A rotor has a cylindrical shaft, at least one impeller appended to one end of the shaft, and a plurality of magnets located within the shaft. The rotor shaft is positioned within the housing bore with the magnets opposite the motor stator, and the impeller is positioned within the pumping chamber. The housing bore is closely fitted to the outer surface of the shaft forming a hydrodynamic journal bearing, with the pumping chamber and journal bearing connected by a leak path of blood flow between the pumping chamber and the journal bearing. A backiron of the motor stator attracts the rotor magnets to resist longitudinal displacement of the rotor within the housing during operation. The relative orientation of positions of the inflow, outflow, and leakage flow paths may be varied within the pump, such as to accommodate different intended methods for implantation and/or use.

ECM based compositions including amniotic membrane and methods for employing same to treat cardiovascular disorders.