VENTRICULAR ASSIST SYSTEM AND METHOD OF TREATMENT OF CARDIOVASCULAR IMPAIRMENT

1 . A ventricular assist system, comprising:

a cannula defining a lumen and including a first end and a second end, the second end of the cannula including a tip that defines an opening;

a pump operably coupled to the first end of the cannula;

a pump anchor operably coupled to the pump, the pump anchor having a retracted position and a deployed position;

a sheath selectively disposed around the cannula; and

a guidewire disposed within the lumen of the cannula.

2 . The ventricular assist system of claim 1 , wherein the pump anchor includes a plurality of eyelets and a wire, and wherein the eyelets are proximate one another in the retracted position of the pump anchor.

3 . The ventricular assist system of claim 1 , wherein the guidewire includes a cap removably coupled to the pump, and wherein the guidewire is aligned with the lumen of the cannula via the cap coupled to the pump.

4 . The ventricular assist system of claim 1 , wherein the sheath defines a linear body between the first end and the second end of the cannula when the sheath is disposed around the cannula, and wherein the cannula has a sigmoidal body between the first end and the second end of the cannula when the sheath is removed from the cannula.

5 . The ventricular assist system of claim 1 , further comprising a tip anchor operably coupled to the second end of the cannula proximate the tip.

6 . The ventricular assist system of claim 1 , wherein the pump anchor includes an attachment portion and a plurality of extensions extending from the attachment portion.

7 . The ventricular assist system of claim 1 , further comprising a driveline attached to the pump and configured to transmit power and information between the pump and a controller.

8 . The ventricular assist system of claim 1 , wherein the sheath selectively covers the pump anchor such that the pump anchor collapses to the retracted position when the sheath is disposed around the pump anchor and expands to the deployed position when the sheath is removed from around the pump anchor.

9 . The ventricular assist system of claim 1 , wherein the sheath and guidewire are axially translatable relative to one another.

10 . The ventricular assist system of claim 1 , wherein the guidewire extends from both the first end of the canula and the second end of the canula.

11 . The ventricular assist system of claim 1 , further comprising a delivery device configured to extend and retract the sheath from around the canula.

12 . The ventricular assist system of claim 1 , further comprising a delivery device configured to extend and retract the sheath from around the canula and the pump anchor.

13 . The ventricular assist system of claim 1 , further comprising a delivery device configured to deploy the guidewire with the lumen.

14 . The ventricular assist system of claim 1 , further comprising:

a driveline attached to the pump and configured to transmit power and information between the pump and a controller; and

a delivery device configured to extend and retract the sheath from around the canula and the pump anchor and deploy the guidewire with the lumen.

15 . A method of treatment of a cardiovascular impairment using a ventricular assist device across a right ventricle between an inferior vena cava and a pulmonary artery of a human, the method comprising:

inserting the ventricular assist device in the inferior vena cava via a delivery device and a driveline at an access site, the ventricular assist device comprising a pump including at least one anchor and a cannula operably coupled to the pump;

guiding the cannula inserted into the inferior vena cava through a right atrium of said human, into the right ventricle, and into the pulmonary artery;

deploying the at least one anchor of the ventricular assist device in the inferior vena cava;

maneuvering the delivery device over the driveline; and

when treatment is complete:

externalizing the driveline relative to said human;

inserting the delivery device over the driveline and into the inferior vena cava;

collapsing the at least one anchor of the ventricular assist device; and

removing the delivery device and the ventricular assist device from said human.

16 . The method of claim 15 , further comprising:

inserting the driveline subcutaneously proximate the access site;

guiding, subcutaneously, the driveline toward a lower abdomen; and

externalizing an end of the driveline at a treatment site located at the lower abdomen.

17 . The method of claim 16 , wherein the access site is proximate to a femoral vein.

18 . The method of claim 16 , wherein the access site is proximate to the inferior vena cava.

19 . The method of claim 15 , further comprising:

partially externalizing the driveline at the access site, wherein the access site is proximate to a femoral vein;

bending the driveline extracorporeally;

reinserting the driveline into a lower portion of the inferior vena cava from the access site;

guiding an end of the driveline, subcutaneously, toward a lower abdomen from an exit site defined at the lower portion of the inferior vena cava; and

externalizing the end of the driveline at an exit site located at the lower abdomen.

20 . The method of claim 15 , wherein externalizing the driveline relative to said human includes cutting the driveline.