Nimbus, Incorporated

Tc1 LLC

Thoratec Corporation

Douglas C Thomas

David J Burke

Thomas C Rintoul

James F Antaki

Steven H Reichenbach

Kenneth C Butler

John Robert Boston

Bryce A Stammerjohan

Seongjin Choi

Timothy R Maher

Devin V Amin

Miriam C Larsen

This document relates to continuity monitoring of electrical conductors. For example, materials and methods for continuity monitoring of conductors for use providing power to a blood pump (e.g., an assist device) are provided.

Monitoring of redundant conductors

A blood pump may be adapted to sense the onset of left ventricular collapse by monitoring a pulsatility index, and may adjust the pump speed to maintain the index at a setpoint. The pulsatility index may be measured by the amount of difference between the maximum and the minimum volume of flow through the pump during a particular time period. The setpoint may be increased when the onset of ventricular collapse is detected, for example, when the pulsatility index falls suddenly. The setpoint may be decreased incrementally when the onset of ventricular collapse has not been detected for a period of time, such as for a particular period of time since the last detection of the onset of ventricular collapse.

Adaptive speed control for blood pump

An automatic speed control system continually adjusts the speed of an implanted cardiac assist blood pump to an optimum level for the varying physiological needs of the patient. It does this by periodically iteratively incrementing the speed setpoint of the pump. When the system detects the imminence of a ventricular collapse at diastole, it decrements the speed setpoint by a predetermined safety margin. An alarm condition is provided if the setpoint decrease results in an insufficient blood flow rate through the pump. The flow rate and imminence of ventricular collapse are computed in real time as functions of only the pump's motor current and speed setpoint.

Speed control system for implanted blood pumps

An articulating motor stator assembly for use in a pump incorporates features that permit recycling of the motor stator when disposing of other parts of the pump. Such a stator assembly facilitates convenient manufacture, testing, and installation of the pump. For convenient installation, the motor stator assembly can incorporate a multi-part, annular housing that defines a central conduit to receive a motor rotor assembly. The multi-part housing of the motor stator assembly may be selectively repositioned between an open and closed configuration. In its open configuration a motor rotor assembly may be conveniently installed in the motor stator and when closed the motor stator will actuate the motor rotor assembly in order to operate a pump. The assembly thereby enables separate manufacture and shipment from a remote location. In addition, the assembly can be separately tested prior to installation. After pump use, the motor stator can be opened so as to remove the motor rotor assembly. The same motor stator assembly can then receive a new motor rotor assembly.

Articulated motor stator assembly for a pump

Signal for an ambulatory aid

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Carmichael, CA, United States of America

Douglas C Thomas