SUPPLEMENTAL BLOOD PUMP, METHODS AND SYSTEMS FOR SUPPLEMENTING BLOOD FLOW

摘要

Systems and methods of supplementing blood flow from the heart of a patient (10) involving superficial, non-invasive procedures. In one general method, a first conduit (20) is directed into the left side of the heart, a second conduit (24) is directed into a superficial vessel (26) and a pump (16) is connected between the first and second conduits (20, 24). The pump (16) is implanted superficially in the patient (10) and a power supply (18) is connected to the pump (16). Blood is then suctioned from the left side of the patient's heart through the first conduit (20) into the pump (16) and expelled from the pump (16) into the second conduit (24) and the superficial vessel (26). A transcutaneous power supply (18) is disclosed in one aspect and includes an external portion with a connection and alignment feature to assure transmission of power.