World Heart Corporation

Valentx, Inc.

Other

Carnegie Mellon University

Josiah E Verkaik

Jingchun Wu

Cole Chen

Johann J Neisz

James F Antaki

Bradley Evan Paden

Michael Richard Ricci

David Brian Paden

Sean Miller

Shaun T Snyder

Christopher Paul Swain

Mitchell Dann

Gerard Von Hoffmann

John C Hancock

James Wright

Greg Fluet

Juan Madrigal

Jonathan M Gurdin

A magnetically-levitated blood pump with an optimization method that enables miniaturization and supercritical operation. The blood pump includes an optimized annular blood gap that increases blood flow and also provides a reduction in bearing stiffness among the permanent magnet bearings. Sensors are configured and placed optimally to provide space savings for the motor and magnet sections of the blood pump. Rotor mass is increased by providing permanent magnet placement deep within the rotor enabled by a draw rod configuration.

Magnetically-levitated blood pump with optimization method enabling miniaturization

A rotordynamic pump for delivering continuous flow of fluids, such as blood, is provided. In one embodiment, the pump includes a stator housing having an inlet and an outlet. A rotor hub is disposed within the stator housing having a first, mixed-stage impeller and a second, axial-flow stage impellers. One or more stator vanes and extend radially inwardly from the stator housing. In one particular embodiment, the second stage impeller is disposed nearer to the outlet than to the inlet. The stator vanes may include a first set of stator vanes disposed between the first and second stage impellers, and a second set of stator vanes positioned between the second stage impellers and the outlet.

Blood pump with separate mixed-flow and axial-flow impeller stages, components therefor and related methods

Devices and methods for gastrointestinal bypass are described. A gastrointestinal bypass device includes a gastrointestinal cuff and a gastrointestinal sleeve. The cuff may be configured to be attached in the esophagus, and may be sufficiently flexible to expand and collapse to conform with the inside of the esophagus to allow the esophagus to function substantially normally. The sleeve is configured to be coupled to the cuff, and may be made of a material that is floppy or flaccid but does not substantially expand radially.

Devices and methods for gastrointestinal bypass

A circulatory heart model () is disclosed that is geometrically accurate with respect to corresponding anatomical structures (). The model () provides a closed loop for providing flow through the major anatomical structures () corresponding to a modeled biological heart. The model () provides a means of pumping fluid through a closed loop flow circuit analogous to the circulatory system by gripping the base of the heart model () and squeezing with one's hand. The transparent quality of the heart model () enables flow visualization including visualization of anatomical valve function through representative valves (). The model () provides high educational, scientific, and/or amusement value in a device that is economical to produce.

Circulatory heart model

Disclosed herein are systems and methods for attaching or maintaining the position of a therapeutic or diagnostic device in a body lumen, such as the GI tract without necessarily requiring any penetrating attachments through any body walls. The system can include at least two elements: a proximal orientation element and a distal support element. The proximal orientation element can be configured to reside at least partially within the esophageal lumen and the distal support element can be configured to reside in the stomach, such as along the greater curve of the stomach. An intragastric support system can have a first configuration in which the long axis of the proximal orientation element is substantially parallel and/or substantially coaxial with the long axis of the distal support element, and a second configuration in which the long axis of the proximal orientation element is not substantially coaxial with the long axis of the distal support element. The second configuration can thus advantageously retain the intragastric support system in place and prevent unwanted proximal migration of the distal support element into the esophagus or distal migration into the intestine.

Methods and devices for intragastric support of functional or prosthetic gastrointestinal devices

Growing community of inventors

Lompoc, CA, United States of America

Josiah E Verkaik