A heart pump assembly, also referred to as catheter assembly, having a desired anatomical shape is provided. The catheter assembly can include a catheter and a cannula having a bend between a proximal portion and a distal portion. A resting shape of the catheter and the cannula can be selected to allow the distal cannula portion to be positioned at a desired angle relative to an anatomical plane (e.g., a plane of an aortic arch). In some embodiments, a packaging tray can be designed to set the catheter assembly in a desired resting shape. For example, the proximal cannula portion can be positioned at a first angle relative to the catheter, and the proximal cannula portion can be positioned at a second angle out of the plane of the packaging tray via one or more inserts.

The present invention provides an intravascular right ventricular assist device, i.e., the cavo-arterial pump (CAP). Two prototypes of the CAP were developed, including a direct drive CAP and a magnetic drive CAP, demonstrating the feasibility of providing adequate pulmonary support and the feasibility of using axial magnetic couplings for contactless torque transmission from the motor shaft to the pump impeller. The magnetic drive CAP was able to operate up to 18.5 kRPM and produce a maximum flow rate of 1.35 L/min and a maximum pressure head of 40 mm Hg.

Mechanical circulatory supports configured to operate in series with the native heart are disclosed. In an embodiment, a centrifugal pump is used. In an embodiment, inlet and outlet ports are connected into the aorta and blood flow is diverted through a lumen and a centrifugal pump between the inlet and outlet ports. The supports may create a pressure rise between about 40-80 mmHg, and maintain a flow rate of about 5 L/min. The support may be configured to be inserted in a collinear manner with the descending aorta. The support may be optimized to replicate naturally occurring vortex formation within the aorta. Diffusers of different dimensions and configurations, such as helical configuration, and/or the orientation of installation may be used to optimize vortex formation. The support may use an impeller which is electromagnetically suspended, stabilized, and rotated to pump blood.

A dialysis machine that includes a valve member having a deformable area configured to deform outwardly away when pressurized fluid is introduced into the valve member. The valve member is configured so that, when a dialysis fluid cassette is disposed in a cassette compartment of the dialysis machine and pressurized fluid is introduced into the valve member, the deformable area obstructs a fluid channel of the dialysis fluid cassette to control dialysis fluid flow therethrough.

A bearingless and sealless rotary blood pump is disclosed which provides multidirectional flow intended to provide low-pressure, high-volume right-sided partial assist circulatory support in a univentricular Fontan circulation on a permanent basis. The pump includes a housing and an impeller suspended in the center of the housing. The housing incorporates flow optimization features between inlet and outlet ends, as well as with the impeller surface. Large fluid gaps maintained between impeller and housing eliminate any potential for blood flow obstruction. The impeller contains some motor components. It includes a central stator and surrounding rotor. The motor includes a brushless DC outrunner electrical motor design. An electromagnetic stator core is surrounded by a circumferential passive magnetic ring. The rotor is further levitated about the stator spindle by a plurality of axially and radially located passive magnetic and hydrodynamic journal bearings on both ends of the spindle. The rotor is bearingless and sealless. During impeller rotation, blood entering the space between the rotor and stator is induced to flow by centrifugal pumping action and the fluid film separates the stator hydrodynamic bearings from the rotor so that there is no direct mechanical contact between the rotor and stator.

A catheter pump is disclosed herein. The catheter pump can include an elongate catheter body and an impeller assembly coupled to a distal portion of the elongate catheter body. The impeller assembly can comprise an impeller configured to rotate during operation of the catheter pump. A tube can extend through at least portions of the elongate catheter body and the impeller assembly. The tube can extend distal the impeller and can be configured to remain in the portions of the elongate catheter body and the impeller assembly during operation of the catheter pump.

A catheter pump assembly is provided that includes a proximal a distal portion, a catheter body, an impeller, and a flow modifying structure. The catheter body has a lumen that extends along a longitudinal axis between the proximal and distal portions. The impeller is disposed at the distal portion. The impeller includes a blade with a trailing edge. The flow modifying structure is disposed downstream of the impeller. The flow modifying structure has a plurality of blades having a leading edge substantially parallel to and in close proximity to the trailing edge of the blade of the impeller and an expanse extending downstream from the leading edge. In some embodiments, the expanse has a first region with higher curvature and a second region with lower curvature. The first region is between the leading edge and the second region.

A catheter includes a catheter body, a pump assembly and a cannula. The pump assembly can be disposed at a distal end of the catheter body and has a distal portion. The cannula can be coupled to the distal end portion of the pump assembly and can include a proximal cannula portion and a distal cannula portion. The distal cannula portion has an approximately helical shape which can allow the cannula to be inserted into a patient's right heart and pump blood therethrough. In certain implementations, the distal tip of the helical shape has a slight bias relative to the main helix to further facilitate delivery of the device. In certain applications this bias is toward the central axis of the helix.

A system and method for implanting a ventricular assist device (“VAD”) within the heart includes one or more tools, each having a body with a passage. Each tool body can be engaged with an anchor ring assembly secured to the heart. A coring tool can be advanced through the passage in a tool body and used to from a hole in the heart wall, and then valve actuating elements carried on the tool can be used to close a valve incorporated in the anchor ring assembly. A VAD can be passed into the heart through a passage in a tool body after opening the valve. The procedure can be performed while the heart continues to beat, without gross blood loss.

A device for controlling the functioning of a cardiac prosthesis, the device for controlling includes a control path, the control path having a control system designed and arranged to monitor and regulate the electrical supply of a cardiac prosthesis; a first insulating system designed and arranged to electrically insulate the cardiac prosthesis from the electrical supply; and a controller designed and arranged to monitor and regulate the electrical supply.