The present invention is related to a stretchable tubular device (1) comprising at least one layer (Lx) of a stretchable polymer, a power supply (2) and a set of electrodes (3a, 3b) connected to said power supply (2). The power supply can supply at least a first level of voltage (V1) to the electrodes so as to modify the natural force (F0) of the stretchable layers to a modified force (F1). The present invention also covers a process for manufacturing such a tubular device and its use as a medical implant.

The present invention is related to a stretchable tubular device (1) comprising at least one layer (Lx) of a stretchable polymer, a power supply (2) and a set of electrodes (3a, 3b) connected to said power supply (2). The power supply can supply at least a first level of voltage (V1) to the electrodes so as to modify the natural force (F0) of the stretchable layers to a modified force (F1). The present invention also covers a process for manufacturing such a tubular device and its use as a medical implant.

A spring (3, 3′) comprising a plurality of elements (30), each element (3) comprising a rigid portion (31) and a flexible beam (32), the extremities (320, 321) of the flexible beam being supported by the rigid portion (31), the flexible beam (32) having a single stable position, so that the flexible beam can be deformed when a pressure is exerted between said extremities in the direction of the rigid portion (31), and returns to said single stable position when the pressure is released, and wherein the rigid portion (31) of at least one element (30) is in contact with the flexible beam (32) of the next element between said extremities (320, 321) of the flexible beam (32), so that the spring has a negative stiffness over an operating range. The arrangement ensures a pure radial compression/expansion of the spring.

A spring (3, 3′) comprising a plurality of elements (30), each element (3) comprising a rigid portion (31) and a flexible beam (32), the extremities (320, 321) of the flexible beam being supported by the rigid portion (31), the flexible beam (32) having a single stable position, so that the flexible beam can be deformed when a pressure is exerted between said extremities in the direction of the rigid portion (31), and returns to said single stable position when the pressure is released, and wherein the rigid portion (31) of at least one element (30) is in contact with the flexible beam (32) of the next element between said extremities (320, 321) of the flexible beam (32), so that the spring has a negative stiffness over an operating range. The arrangement ensures a pure radial compression/expansion of the spring.

Circulatory assistance device for a heart of a living being, including a cuff for periodically applying pressure to the heart by at least one dielectric elastomer membrane which is controllable by a control device in synchronization with a cardiac beat in order to convey blood in pulses, wherein the cuff is designed to be pulled over the outside of the heart and for this purpose has an inner shape that is adapted to the outer contour of the heart at least in the region outside the ventricles, wherein the cuff is composed of an outer contraction layer including the dielectric elastomer membrane and an inner padding layer, and the inner padding layer is filled with an incompressible liquid and has at least one outlet valve, which is closed in a normal state and opened in an emergency state.

A smart cardiac assist device which may aid in ventricular recovery. The device proactively assists the left and the right ventricular chambers to contract and relax better. The device includes a plurality of sensors to understand the native cardiac function in real time and assist the heart as per its requirement and support required in real time.

A smart cardiac assist device which may aid in ventricular recovery. The device proactively assists the left and the right ventricular chambers to contract and relax better. The device includes a plurality of sensors to understand the native cardiac function in real time and assist the heart as per its requirement and support required in real time.

Methods and apparatuses relate to an implantable device for providing contractile assistance to an organ. The device may include an actuator and anchors located on either side of the actuator. The anchors engage with oppositely positioned tissue walls of an organ chamber, and provide contractile assistance to the organ, repeatedly, at appropriate times. For example, the device may be implanted within the right ventricle, anchored to the right ventricular free wall and the ventricular septum. The device may function to bring the opposing walls of the ventricle toward one another, synchronized with the pacing of the heart, resulting in an improved ejection fraction of blood from the chamber. In some embodiments, the actuator includes a bladder that is configured to contract upon receiving an inflow of pressurized fluid therein. When the fluid exits therefrom, the bladder relaxes back to an initial, extended state.

The invention comprises an apparatus and a method for operating a cardiac assist pump, comprising the steps of: (1) providing a cardiac monitor comprising: a cardiac output sensor including an activity sensor and at least two of: a pulse oximeter; an electrocardiogram meter; and a blood pressure monitor; (2) receiving time-varying cardiovascular input data, from the cardiac output sensor, related to a transient hemodynamic state of a cardiovascular system; (3) receiving and operating on time-varying activity input data, from the activity sensor, to generate cardiovascular state information; (4) sensing activity with the activity sensor to generate a target cardiovascular state; (5) repeating both the steps of receiving and operating to update the transient cardiovascular state information and the step of sensing to update the target cardiovascular state; and (6) directing the cardiac assist pump to adjust assisted blood flow, yielding the updated transient cardiovascular state, toward the target cardiovascular state.

The invention comprises an apparatus and a method for aiding function of a heart, comprising the steps of: (1) sensing a pulse; (2) providing a blood flow assist device, comprising: a first electroactive polymer sleeve segment circumferentially positioned about a portion of a first body part and a second electroactive polymer sleeve segment circumferentially positioned about a segment of a second body part; (3) sequentially constricting, timed to the pulse, the first electroactive polymer sleeve segment and the second electroactive polymer sleeve segment to aid the heart in circulation of blood; and (4) repeating the step of sensing the pulse and the step of constricting.