Heartware, Inc.

Georg Wieselthaler

Heinrich Schima

Martin Stoiber

Zeno Deckert

The present invention includes various embodiments of methods of circulating blood in a mammalian circulatory system, and various blood circulation assemblies adapted to perform such circulation. In one embodiment of the present invention, a blood circulation assembly includes a blood circulation device having an inlet and a discharge; a first cannula including a proximal portion in communication with the inlet, the proximal portion having a wall extending around a first longitudinal axis and having outer and inner faces, said inner face defining a bore, and a distal portion including an outer face tapering distally toward said axis and at least two openings extending from said outer face and merging with one another to form a hollow space within said distal portion, said hollow space communicating with said bore of said proximal portion; and a second cannula including a proximal portion in communication with the discharge, the proximal portion having a wall extending around a first longitudinal axis and having outer and inner faces, said inner face defining a bore, and a distal portion including an outer face tapering distally toward said axis and at least two openings extending from said outer face and merging with one another to form a hollow space within said distal portion, said hollow space communicating with said bore of said proximal portion.

Cannula tip for use with a VAD

A surgical procedure including making an incision in the patient's body, inserting at least two sutures close to the junction of the pericardium on the upper right pulmonary vein and making an incision in the pericardium substantially parallel to the ascending portion of the aorta. An incision is made between the sutures on the upper right pulmonary vein, an inflow cannula is inserted into the vein and through the mitral-valve into the left ventricular chamber and the inflow cannula is secured to the upper right pulmonary vein. The procedure includes inserting a blood pump having an outflow graft into the patient's body and cutting the outflow graft to a desired length, attaching a clamp to the aorta and then attaching the outflow graft to the aorta. The clamp is removed and air is flushed or removed from the outflow graft and the blood pump. The blood pump is then connected to the inflow cannula.

Implantation procedure for blood pumps

In one embodiment of the present invention, a cannula for use with a blood circulation device may include the cannula having a longitudinal axis and proximal and distal directions along the longitudinal axis. The cannula may also include a proximal portion having a wall extending around the longitudinal axis and having outer and inner faces, the inner face may define a bore, the proximal portion may have dimensions transverse to the longitudinal axis, and the dimensions may be constant in the proximal and distal directions. Also, the cannula may have a distal portion having an outer face, continuous with the outer face of the proximal portion. The outer face of the distal portion may extend around and along the longitudinal axis, and the outer face of the distal portion may taper distally toward the longitudinal axis. The distal portion may include at least two openings extending from the outer face of the distal portion, which may merge with one another within the distal portion. Then, the openings may communicate with the bore of the proximal portion. One type of blood circulation device may be a ventricular assist device.

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Vienna, Austria

Georg Wieselthaler