An implantable pump system is provided, suitable for use as a left ventricular assist device (LVAD) system, having an implantable pump, a battery, a controller, and a programmer. The implantable pump includes a flexible membrane coupled to an actuator assembly via a skirt that extends toward the inlet of the pump and curves to guide blood toward the outlet. The actuator assembly is magnetically engageable with electromagnetic coils, so that when the electromagnetic coils are energized, the actuator assembly causes wavelike undulations to propagate along the flexible membrane to propel blood from the inlet, across the skirt, and through the outlet of the implantable pump. The controller may be programmed by a programmer to operate at frequencies and duty cycles that mimic physiologic flow rates and pulsatility while operating in an efficient manner that avoids thrombus formation, hemolysis and/or platelet activation.

An implantable pump system is provided, suitable for use as a left ventricular assist device (LVAD) system, having an implantable pump, a battery, a controller, and a programmer. The implantable pump includes a flexible membrane coupled to an actuator assembly via a skirt that extends toward the inlet of the pump and curves to guide blood toward the outlet. The actuator assembly is magnetically engageable with electromagnetic coils, so that when the electromagnetic coils are energized, the actuator assembly causes wavelike undulations to propagate along the flexible membrane to propel blood from the inlet, across the skirt, and through the outlet of the implantable pump. The controller may be programmed by a programmer to operate at frequencies and duty cycles that mimic physiologic flow rates and pulsatility while operating in an efficient manner that avoids thrombus formation, hemolysis and/or platelet activation.

Apparatus and methods are described for manufacturing a housing for an impeller of a blood pump. A frame is treated in order to enhance bonding between an inner surface of the frame and an inner lining. Subsequently, the inner lining is coupled to the inner surface of the frame along at least a portion of a central cylindrical portion of the frame. Subsequent to coupling the inner lining to the inner surface of the frame along at least a portion of the central cylindrical portion of the frame, a portion of an elongate tube is placed around at least a portion of the frame. While heating the inner lining, the frame, and the portion of the elongate tube, pressure is applied such as to cause the portion of the elongate tube to become coupled to the frame. Other applications are also described.

A blood pump includes an impeller; a drive shaft coupled to the impeller and configured to rotate with the impeller; a motor configured to drive the impeller; and a bearing assembly disposed adjacent the motor and configured to receive an end of the drive shaft. The bearing assembly includes a bearing, where the end of the drive shaft is at least partially rounded, and the where the bearing includes a concave depression defined in a first side of the bearing, where the depression is configured to receive the end of the drive shaft. The bearing assembly may include a lubricant chamber configured to hold a lubricant.

A blood pump includes an impeller; a drive shaft coupled to the impeller and configured to rotate with the impeller; a motor configured to drive the impeller; and a bearing assembly disposed adjacent the motor and configured to receive an end of the drive shaft. The bearing assembly includes a bearing, where the end of the drive shaft is at least partially rounded, and the where the bearing includes a concave depression defined in a first side of the bearing, where the depression is configured to receive the end of the drive shaft. The bearing assembly may include a lubricant chamber configured to hold a lubricant.

The present disclosure relates to a motor for an extracorporeal blood pump, an extracorporeal blood pump, and an extracorporeal blood pump system. The motor for an extracorporeal blood pump comprises: a housing; an actuator located in the housing and used for driving an impeller in a pump head of the extracorporeal blood pump; at least one sensor located in the housing; and a motor driving-control assembly located in the housing and used to control operation of the motor. Integrating the motor driving-control assembly into the housing of the motor can significantly reduce the dependence of the motor on the control host of the extracorporeal blood pump, the risk of communication failure between the motor and the control host, and the risk of malfunction of the motor driving-control assembly, thereby greatly improving the safety and reliability of the extracorporeal blood pump.

A blood pump-oxygenator system comprises at least one blood pump, an oxygenator, inflow and outflow cannulas, connected to form a closed series circuit operable as a cardiopulmonary bypass system for extracorporeal processing of the patient's blood. The blood pump conveys blood through the circuit from the patient into the inflow cannula, through the oxygenator and out of the outflow cannula back into the patient. A manifold is connected between the inflow and outflow cannulas so blood passes through the manifold, wherein the manifold accommodates the blood pump and the oxygenator to form a recirculation loop configured to recirculate at least part of the blood in the circuit so the blood passes over the oxygenator multiple times. An extra blood pump is positioned at the outflow cannula to deliver a set volume to the patient, controllable independently from the blood pump that circulates the blood in the manifold including the oxygenator.

A blood pump-oxygenator system comprises at least one blood pump, an oxygenator, inflow and outflow cannulas, connected to form a closed series circuit operable as a cardiopulmonary bypass system for extracorporeal processing of the patient's blood. The blood pump conveys blood through the circuit from the patient into the inflow cannula, through the oxygenator and out of the outflow cannula back into the patient. A manifold is connected between the inflow and outflow cannulas so blood passes through the manifold, wherein the manifold accommodates the blood pump and the oxygenator to form a recirculation loop configured to recirculate at least part of the blood in the circuit so the blood passes over the oxygenator multiple times. An extra blood pump is positioned at the outflow cannula to deliver a set volume to the patient, controllable independently from the blood pump that circulates the blood in the manifold including the oxygenator.

A header for a controller for an implantable medical device. The header includes at least one bore sized and configured to receive a corresponding connector for the implantable medical device. At least one elongate thermally conducting element is disposed within the header and proximate the at least one bore, the at least one elongate thermally conducting element being configured to conduct heat away from the at least one bore and spread heat within the header when the corresponding connector is received within the at least one bore and is communication with the implantable medical device.

A header for a controller for an implantable medical device. The header includes at least one bore sized and configured to receive a corresponding connector for the implantable medical device. At least one elongate thermally conducting element is disposed within the header and proximate the at least one bore, the at least one elongate thermally conducting element being configured to conduct heat away from the at least one bore and spread heat within the header when the corresponding connector is received within the at least one bore and is communication with the implantable medical device.