Thoratec Corporation

Sunshine Heart Company Pty Limited

Other

University Technology Corporation

University of Technology Sydney

Ventrassist Pty Ltd.

Sunshine Heart, Inc.

Ventrassist Pty Ltd and University of Technology

Peter Andrew Watterson

John Campbell Woodard

Geoffrey Douglas Tansley

William Suttle Peters

Peter Joseph Ayre

Hans Hansforth Henrichsen

Scott Hugh Miller

Howard C Lovatt

This invention relates to devices and methods for the activation of nerve cells and muscles by magnetic induction, and in particular to devices including moving magnets. The devices disclosed may also have other therapeutic, medical and industrial applications.

Device including moving magnet configurations

A pump assembly and estimation and control system therefor, the pump adapted for continuous flow pumping of blood. In a particular form, the pump is a centrifugal pump wherein the impeller is entirely sealed within the pump housing and is exclusively hydrodynamically suspended therein against movement in three translational and two rotational degrees of freedom as the impeller rotates within the fluid urged by electromagnetic means external to the pump cavity. Hydrodynamic suspension is assisted by the impeller having deformities therein such as blades with surfaces tapered from the leading edges to the trailing edges of bottom and top surfaces thereof.

Rotary blood pump and control system therefor

The present invention relates to providing counter-pulsation heart assist by deforming the aorta. In a preferred embodiment, the deformation pressure is applied by cyclically, preferably in synchrony with the diastolic period of the heart. The deformation pressure may be applied to the outer wall of the aorta or to a patch covering a resected opening in the wall of the aorta.

Heart assist device utilising aortic deformation

A pump assemblyadapted for continuous flow pumping of blood. In a particular from the pumpis a centrifugal pump wherein the impelleris entirely sealed within the pump housingand is exclusively hydrodynamically suspended therein as the impeller rotates within the fluidurged by electromagnetic means external to the pump cavity. Hydrodynamic suspension is assisted by the impellerhaving deformities therein such as bladeswith surfaces tapered from the leading edgesto the trailing edgesof bottom and top edgesthereof.

Rotary pump with hydrodynamically suspended impeller

A fluid pressure generating means () for a heart assist device having blood pumping means. The pressure generating means () includes a housing (), defining an interior volume (), and having a substantially rigid first housing portion (), a substantially rigid second housing portion (), a flexible third housing portion () extending between the first () and second () housing portions and an inlet/outlet port () adapted for fluid communication with the blood pumping means. The pressure generating means () also includes a fluid filling the housing and a motor () disposed within the housing () and connected between the first () and second () housing portions. Actuation of the motor () moves the first () and second () housing portions relative to one another to generate fluid pressure changes at the inlet/outlet port (). A related heart assist device and method for the treatment of congestive heart failure, myocardial ischemia and like conditions are also disclosed.

Fluid pressure generating means

A pump assembly adapted for continuous flow pumping of blood. In a particular form the pump is a centrifugal pump wherein the impeller is entirely sealed within the pump housing and is hydrodynamically suspended therein as the impeller rotates within the fluid urged by electromagnetic means external to the pump cavity. Hydrodynamic suspension is assisted by the impeller having deformities therein such as blades with surfaces tapered from the leading edges to the trailing edges of bottom and top edges thereof.

This invention relates to rotary pumps adapted, but not exclusively, for use as artificial hearts or ventricular assist devices and, in particular, discloses in preferred forms a seal-less shaft-less pump featuring open or closed (shrouded) impeller blades with the edges of the blades used as hydrodynamic thrust bearings and with electromagnetic torque provided by the interaction between magnets embedded in the blades and a rotating current pattern generated in coils fixed relative to the pump housing.

This invention relates to rotary pumps adapted, but not exclusively, for use as artificial hearts or ventricular assist devices and, in particular, discloses in preferred forms a seal-less shaft-less pump featuring open or closed (shrouded) impeller blades with the edges of the blades used as hydrodynamic thrust bearing and with electromagnetic torque provided by the interaction between magnets embedded in the blades and a rotating current pattern generated in coils fixed relative to the pump housing.

A high speed, brushless, DC motor has a rotor comprising a solid rare earth magnet core magnetized diametrically. The rotor includes a sleeve surrounding the magnet core to radially constrain the core during high speed rotation thereof. The sleeve extends axially in both directions from the core to form a hollow shaft for the rotor. The sleeve is formed of non-magnetic, low electrical conductivity material. Control circuitry is provided including an electronic inverter of a predetermined rating, the control circuitry including means to maintain substantially constant power through the range of motor speeds from a base speed to a maximum speed while maintaining a power factor close to 1.

Growing community of inventors

Denistone, Australia

Peter Andrew Watterson