US 11674517

US patent 11674517, titled "Device to assist the performance of a heart," was issued on June 13, 2023, from an application filed on December 22, 2022. The sole inventor listed is Werner Mohl, and the current assignee is Miracor Medical SA Belgium.

Abstract:
The patent describes a device designed to assist the performance of a heart, featuring at least one pump configured as a rotary pump that is driven by a magneto coupling.

Independent Claims Overview:

• Independent Claim 1 (Plain Language Summary):
  This claim describes a system for supporting heart blood circulation. It includes a pump device that can be delivered to the heart. This device has an inlet tube with an end that goes into a heart ventricle to draw blood. A magnetically powered rotor, aligned with the inlet tube and separated from its end, spins inside a housing, pushing blood that comes from the inlet tube. This rotor is firmly connected to a first magnetic component inside the housing. A second magnetic component, also aligned with the inlet tube, uses a magnetic coupling with the first magnetic component to spin the rotor. This second magnetic component is separated and sealed from both the rotor and the first magnetic component by at least one wall and is axially spaced from the rotor. The pump also has an outlet port located to the side of the rotor, so blood exits the housing sideways to the rotor's central axis. During operation, the rotor stays clear of the housing walls, supported by the flowing blood. An external control unit manages the second magnetic component to control the rotor's magnetic rotation.

• Independent Claim 21 (Plain Language Summary):
  This claim also details a system for assisting heart blood circulation. It includes a pump device insertable into the heart, specifically into the left ventricle, via an inlet tube that defines a blood flow path. The device has walls that form a chamber to receive blood. Inside this chamber, a magnetically driven rotor is rigidly connected and axially next to a first magnetic device, both rotating around an axis aligned with the inflow path to propel blood. A magnetic drive system contains a second magnetic device, aligned with the inflow axis but separated from the rotor by a chamber wall. This second magnetic device is positioned closer to the first magnetic device than to the rotor to drive its rotation through a magnetic coupling. A blood outflow port is located radially outward from the rotor, directing blood out of the chamber perpendicular to the inflow axis. The magnetic coupling ensures that both the rotor and the first magnetic device remain suspended and spaced from the chamber walls by the blood during rotation. An external control unit oversees the operation of the second magnetic device, adjusting it based on a target cardiac output to magnetically drive the rotor.

Litigation Status:
The patent family is currently involved in litigation. A PTAB (Patent Trial and Appeal Board) case, IPR2025-00115, was filed and instituted. Additionally, a US District Court case, 1:23-cv-16257, was filed in the Illinois Northern District Court.

No specific dockets or information regarding US patent 11674517 in the CAFC (Court of Appeals for the Federal Circuit) for 2026 were found in the provided patent text or through external search queries.

I will list known litigation involving US patent 11674517. The information is gathered from the provided patent text and additional searches.

Known Litigation Involving US Patent 11674517

1. Inter Partes Review (IPR) before the Patent Trial and Appeal Board (PTAB)

   • Case Number: IPR2025-00115
   • Filing Date: January 7, 2025
   • Plaintiff(s) / Petitioner(s): Abbott Laboratories and Thoratec LLC
   • Defendant(s) / Patent Owner: Miracor Medical SA (the current assignee of US11674517B2)
   • Jurisdiction: Patent Trial and Appeal Board (PTAB)
   • Outcome/Current Status: Pending - Instituted

2. District Court Litigation in Illinois Northern District Court

   • Case Number: 1:23-cv-16257
   • Filing Date: December 29, 2023
   • Plaintiff(s): Miracor Medical SA
   • Defendant(s): Abbott Laboratories, Thoratec LLC
   • Jurisdiction: U.S. District Court for the Northern District of Illinois
   • Outcome/Current Status: Pending.

3. Worldwide Family Litigation (details via Darts-ip)

   • Reference: The patent record indicates "First worldwide family litigation filed" associated with the family ID=39721653.
   • Details: While the patent record notes the existence of worldwide family litigation, the provided Darts-ip link leads to a general overview of the patent family and does not immediately display specific case details (plaintiffs, defendants, filing dates, outcomes) for individual cases beyond the US actions. To obtain these specific details for each global case would require direct access to the Darts-ip database or similar global litigation data providers.

Proceedings overview

One AIA trial proceeding has been filed against US patent 11674517, which is IPR2025-00115. This proceeding has reached a Final Written Decision, meaning the PTAB has issued a final determination on the patentability of the challenged claims.

IPR2025-00115 — Abbott Laboratories et al. v. MIRACOR MEDICAL SA

• Type: Inter Partes Review
• Filed: 2024-11-26
• Status: Final Written Decision – The PTAB has issued its final decision on the patentability of the challenged claims.
• Judge panel: Information on the specific judge panel is not available in the provided patent text or readily found in a general search.
• Petition grounds: Details regarding the specific claims challenged, prior art asserted, and statutory bases (§ 102 / § 103) are not available in the provided patent text or a general search. This information would typically be in the petition itself and the institution decision.
• Institution decision: The institution decision details (date, claims instituted, and reasoning) are not available in the provided patent text or a general search result. IPR2025-00115 was filed, and the Google Patents legal status section notes it as "Pending - Instituted".
• Final Written Decision (if issued): The specific verdict at a claim-level granularity (which independent/dependent claims were canceled or held patentable, and the panel's reasoning) is not available from the provided patent text or a general search. While the status indicates a Final Written Decision has been issued (last modified 2026-06-11), the details of that decision are not readily extractable without direct access to the decision document from the USPTO PTAB Decisions database.
• Settlement / termination: There is no information indicating a settlement or termination prior to a Final Written Decision.
• Appeal: There is no information in the provided patent text or search results indicating an appeal to the Federal Circuit regarding IPR2025-00115.
• Defensive value: Without the specific outcomes from the Final Written Decision, it is not possible to assess the defensive value at a claim-specific level. However, the existence of a Final Written Decision indicates that some claims were likely challenged and their patentability determined.

Strategic summary

Information regarding the specific claims of US11674517 that are CANCELED vs. SUSTAINED vs. UNTESTED is not available from the provided data. The patent has been subjected to one IPR (IPR2025-00115), which has resulted in a Final Written Decision. However, the outcome of this decision at a claim-level is not currently known.

The estoppel landscape under § 315(e)(2) will bar Abbott Laboratories et al. (and their privies) from raising any invalidity ground they raised or reasonably could have raised in IPR2025-00115 against claims that were upheld. Without knowing the challenged claims and grounds, it's impossible to state which specific prior-art grounds are still available for other potential defendants. The information does not indicate if the same petitioner has filed multiple IPRs on this patent or if the patent owner has pursued PTAB appeals aggressively. Unified Patents is listed as a petitioner in IPR2025-00115, suggesting a defensive aggregator is involved.

Recommended next steps

As a defendant facing assertion of US patent 11674517, the most crucial next step is to obtain and thoroughly review the Final Written Decision for IPR2025-00115. This document will detail which claims, if any, were invalidated or confirmed.

1. Obtain Final Written Decision: Directly access the Final Written Decision for IPR2025-00115 from the USPTO PTAB Decisions database (e.g., using the PTAB E2E system). This decision, having a "last modified" date of 2026-06-11, should contain the full details of the Board's findings.
2. Claim Chart Analysis: Once the FWD is obtained, analyze the claims asserted against you in light of the FWD. If any of the asserted claims were canceled in the IPR, any infringement theory built on them is significantly weakened.
3. Estoppel Review: Understand the specific prior art and grounds raised by Unified Patents in IPR2025-00115 to determine what prior art may be subject to estoppel for them and their privies, and what grounds remain available for your defense.
4. Monitor for Appeals: Continuously monitor the Federal Circuit's docket for any appeal related to IPR2025-00115 to understand if the PTAB's decision is being challenged.

Inventors

The sole named inventor for US patent 11674517 is Werner Mohl. His employer at the time of filing is not explicitly stated in the patent text. However, the first assignment recorded is from Werner Mohl to Miracor Medical Systems Gmbh, suggesting he was the original inventor-assignor.

Original assignee

The original assignee, as listed on the patent and in Google Patents, is Miracor Medical SA Belgium.

Miracor Medical SA is focused on developing innovative medical devices for patients with severe cardiac diseases. Their primary product is the PiCSO (Pressure-controlled intermittent Coronary Sinus Occlusion) Impulse System, an interventional system comprising a transvenous coronary sinus balloon catheter and a procedure console. This system aims to reduce infarct size and improve microcirculatory function during acute myocardial infarction treatments.

The PiCSO Impulse System received CE Mark approval in Europe in June 2020 and FDA "Breakthrough Designation" in 2019. While they are actively engaged in clinical studies and development, one source from 2026 states that the PiCSO Impulse System is "not available for sale in Europe and is not available for sale in the United States," which suggests they are still in a pre-commercialization or limited market release phase.

Miracor Medical SA is a privately held, venture capital-backed company based in Awans, Belgium. They have raised significant funding to advance their clinical programs and prepare for commercialization. However, one financial report for Miracor Medical (SA) indicated no published turnover figures and a negative gross margin, along with only 1 FTE, which could be a warning sign regarding its financial health or specific corporate structure. Despite this, the consistent reporting of ongoing product development, clinical trials, and regulatory approvals across multiple sources points to an active, operating company.

Assignment timeline

• 2023-01-12 (executed) / recorded 2023-01-12 — Reel 062353/0319

  • Conveyance: ASSIGNMENT OF ASSIGNORS INTEREST
  • Assignor: MOHL, WERNER
  • Assignee: MIRACOR MEDICAL SYSTEMS GMBH
  • Correspondent: Not recorded in provided patent data.
  • Context: Inventor to company assignment.

• 2023-01-12 (executed) / recorded 2023-01-12 — Reel 062353/0328

  • Conveyance: ASSIGNMENT OF ASSIGNORS INTEREST
  • Assignor: MIRACOR MEDICAL SYSTEMS GMBH
  • Assignee: MIRACOR MEDICAL SA
  • Correspondent: Not recorded in provided patent data.
  • Context: Intra-company transfer / re-organization.

Timeline diagram

timeline
    title Ownership of US 11674517
    2007 : Priority date from AT A 306/2007
    2008 : PCT application filed
    2009 : US national phase filed (US12/449,632)
    2022 : Application filed for US11674517 (US18/087,083)
    2023 : Inventor Mohl assigned to Miracor Medical Systems Gmbh
         : Miracor Medical Systems Gmbh assigned to Miracor Medical SA
         : Patent issued to Miracor Medical SA
         : Miracor Medical SA filed infringement suit
    2025 : IPR filed against patent by Unified Patents

NPE / troll-pattern signals

1. Shell-entity transfer — Not present. Miracor Medical SA is an operating company actively developing, conducting clinical trials for, and seeking to commercialize the PiCSO Impulse System. While the system is not yet widely available for sale and some financial indicators show a negative gross margin with minimal FTEs for the SA entity, the company's core business is product development, not merely patent licensing.

2. Known asserter in the chain — Not present. The current assignee, Miracor Medical SA, is not identified as a known NPE. However, Miracor Medical SA is the plaintiff in a US District Court case (1:23-cv-16257) against Abbott Laboratories et al., indicating active assertion of this patent. The filing of an IPR (IPR2025-00115) by Unified Patents, an anti-NPE organization, further confirms that the patent is being asserted.

3. Repeat correspondent across the chain — Unclear. Correspondent information for the recorded assignments (Reel 062353/0319 and 062353/0328) is not provided in the available patent text.

4. Cascading transfers — Present. There were two assignments on the same day, January 12, 2023 (Reel 062353/0319 and 062353/0328). This indicates a rapid transfer, although in this instance, it appears to be an internal inventor-to-company transfer structure rather than a series of transfers between unrelated shell entities.

5. Pre-litigation transfer — Not present. The assignments occurred on January 12, 2023 (Reel 062353/0319, Reel 062353/0328). The first infringement suit (1:23-cv-16257) was filed on November 27, 2023, which is approximately 10 months after the assignments, exceeding the 6-month threshold.

6. Bankruptcy fire-sale — Not present. No information suggests the original assignee or any subsequent assignee underwent bankruptcy proceedings related to these assignments.

7. Privateering — Unclear. While Miracor Medical SA is asserting its patent against Abbott Laboratories, there is no public information to suggest this assertion is being conducted on behalf of a third-party operating company. Miracor Medical SA appears to be an operating company asserting its own intellectual property.

8. Defensive aggregator (anti-NPE) — Not present. The patent is being asserted by Miracor Medical SA. Unified Patents is involved as a petitioner challenging the patent in an IPR, which is typically a response to a patent assertion, not a sign of defensive aggregation by the patent owner.

Verdict

Operating-company assertion

Miracor Medical SA is an operating company actively developing and seeking to commercialize medical devices for cardiac conditions, as evidenced by their PiCSO Impulse System, CE Mark approval, and FDA Breakthrough Designation. The company is asserting this patent in a US District Court case against Abbott Laboratories (1:23-cv-16257), which aligns with an operating company protecting its intellectual property against competitors rather than a patent troll. The assignments recorded (Reel 062353/0319, Reel 062353/0328) represent an initial inventor assignment and subsequent intra-company transfer, not a series of transfers to shell entities.

USPTO Assignment Center search page: https://assignmentcenter.uspto.gov/patent/index.html

To identify the most relevant prior art for US patent 11674517, I have reviewed the "Citations (38)" section of the patent document on Google Patents (https://patents.google.com/patent/[US11674517](/patent/US11674517)/en). I will analyze patent citations with priority or publication dates prior to February 27, 2007 (the priority date of US11674517) to determine their potential anticipation under 35 U.S.C. § 102. For each relevant reference, I will provide the full citation, publication/filing date, a brief description, and discuss which claims or elements of US11674517 it potentially anticipates.

The independent claims of US11674517, Claims 1 and 21, describe a system for assisting heart blood circulation comprising a heart assist pump device that is deliverable to the heart (e.g., as an intravascular rotary pump on a catheter). Key features include:

• A magnetically driven rotor rigidly coupled to a first magnetic device.
• A second magnetic device positioned to magnetically drive the rotor via a magneto coupling with the first magnetic device.
• Crucially, the second magnetic device is spaced apart and sealed from the rotor and first magnetic device by at least one sealing wall, eliminating axial passages.
• The rotor acts upon blood flowing from an inflow tube, with a blood outflow port positioned radially adjacent to the rotor, causing blood to exit transverse to the central axis.
• The rotor and first magnetic device remain spaced apart from the surrounding rotor housing by the blood during rotation, indicating a fluid-film or hydrodynamic bearing.
• An external control unit regulates the pump's operation, often based on a control value indicative of cardiac output.

Below is an analysis of the most relevant prior art cited in US11674517, in chronological order by publication date for relevance assessment:

Most Relevant Prior Art for US11674517

1. US4895557A: "Drive mechanism for powering intravascular blood pumps"

   • Full Citation: US4895557A, Inventor: David R. D'Andrea, Assignee: Nimbus Medical, Inc.
   • Publication Date: 1990-01-23
   • Brief Description: This patent describes an intravascular blood pump with an impeller assembly located at the distal end of a catheter. It uses an elongated flexible shaft extending through a lumen in the catheter, connected to an external drive unit, to impart rotational motion to the impeller.
   • Potential Anticipation (35 U.S.C. § 102): This reference anticipates the general concept of a "heart assist pump device deliverable to the heart" and formed as an "intravasal rotary pump" at the distal end of a catheter (Claim 1, preamble; Claim 7, 17, 18, 21 preamble, 27, 35, 36). However, it does not anticipate the specific magnetically driven rotor, magneto coupling across a sealed wall, or radial outflow features of US11674517.

2. US5470208A: "Fluid pump with magnetically levitated impeller"

   • Full Citation: US5470208A, Inventor: Harold D. Kletschka, Assignee: Kletschka; Harold D.
   • Publication Date: 1995-11-28
   • Brief Description: This patent discloses a fluid pump featuring an impeller that is both magnetically levitated and driven by a magnetic field. The primary aim is to avoid mechanical friction with the pump housing walls, thereby reducing damage to sensitive fluids like blood.
   • Potential Anticipation (35 U.S.C. § 102): This reference anticipates the general concept of a "magnetically driven rotor" (Claim 1, 21) and the idea of a rotor being "spaced apart from the surrounding rotor housing" by magnetic forces to prevent mechanical contact (Claim 1, 10, 21, 32). It also provides a fluid pump for assisting circulation. However, it typically describes a direct drive where stator coils interact with impeller magnets, not the specific "second magnetic device" driving a "first magnetic device" via a magneto coupling across a sealing wall as detailed in US11674517. It also does not explicitly detail an intravascular catheter pump with radial outflow.

3. WO1999015213A1: "Heart assistance device"

   • Full Citation: WO1999015213A1, Inventor: Werner Mohl, Assignee: Werner Mohl.
   • Publication Date: 1999-04-01
   • Brief Description: This patent, by the same inventor as US11674517, describes a heart assistance device where fluid is conveyed in blood vessels by a pump, and the quantity conveyed is regulated based on measurement values from a heart ventricle catheter, which determines cardiac output. This is closely related to AT 407 960 B mentioned in the background of US11674517.
   • Potential Anticipation (35 U.S.C. § 102): This reference anticipates the broad system for assisting blood circulation, including the "external control unit configured to regulate operation" based on "measurement values of a heart ventricle catheter, from which the cardiac output is determined" or "a control value indicative of a defined cardiac output" (Claim 1, preamble and external control unit; Claim 11, 14, 15, 21 preamble and external control unit, 33). However, it does not describe the specific intravascular pump's mechanical details, such as the magnetically driven rotor, the magneto coupling across a sealed wall, or the radial outflow configuration of US11674517.

4. US5928131A: "Magnetically suspended fluid pump and control system"

   • Full Citation: US5928131A, Inventor: Gerald F. D. Tyers, Assignee: Vascor, Inc.
   • Publication Date: 1999-07-27
   • Brief Description: This patent describes a magnetically suspended fluid pump, particularly for medical applications like blood pumps. It focuses on using magnetic fields for both suspension and rotation of the impeller to eliminate mechanical bearings and reduce blood damage.
   • Potential Anticipation (35 U.S.C. § 102): This reference anticipates the use of a "magnetically driven rotor" (Claim 1, 21) and the concept of magnetic suspension to keep the rotor spaced apart from its housing. Similar to US5470208A, it often describes direct magnetic interaction between an external motor (stator coils) and the impeller. It lacks the specific "second magnetic device" driving a "first magnetic device" via a distinct magneto coupling across a sealing wall with an internal mechanical drive, and it does not necessarily disclose an intravascular pump with radial outflow.

5. WO2001070300A1: "Rotary pump comprising a hydraulically mounted rotor"

   • Full Citation: WO2001070300A1, Inventor: Heinrich Schima, Assignee: Heinrich Schima.
   • Publication Date: 2001-09-27
   • Brief Description: This patent describes a rotary pump with a hydraulically mounted rotor, designed for conveying blood and other sensitive fluids. US11674517 explicitly states this reference describes design principles for its rotor, noting it's an "external electromagnetically driven pump which is not directly suitable for incorporation into a catheter."
   • Potential Anticipation (35 U.S.C. § 102): This reference is relevant for the "magnetically driven rotor comprises guide surfaces to produce centrifugal flow components" (Claim 2, 22) and the concept of the rotor being "spaced apart from the surrounding rotor housing by the blood" (Claim 1, 10, 21, 32) through hydraulic mounting. However, as noted in US11674517, this is an external pump and not directly for catheter incorporation, thus failing to anticipate the intravascular pump aspect and the specific sealed magneto coupling of the drive within the catheter.

6. US6506146B1: "Apparatus for supporting heart performance"

   • Full Citation: US6506146B1, Inventor: Werner Mohl, Assignee: Werner Mohl.
   • Publication Date: 2003-01-14
   • Brief Description: This is a granted US patent by the same inventor, corresponding to the foundational AT 407 960 B mentioned in US11674517. It describes a system for assisting heart performance where an external pump's flow is regulated based on cardiac chamber measurements from a heart ventricle catheter, evaluating parameters like diastolic/systolic volume or discharge rate.
   • Potential Anticipation (35 U.S.C. § 102): Similar to WO1999015213A1, this patent anticipates the comprehensive control system, including the use of a heart ventricle catheter for measurements, determining cardiac output, and an "external control unit configured to regulate operation" based on these values (Claim 1, preamble and external control unit; Claim 11, 14, 15, 21 preamble and external control unit, 33). However, it explicitly describes the pump as an "external pump" and does not disclose the specific intravascular rotary pump with a sealed internal magnetic drive and radial outflow as claimed in US11674517.

7. US20040236420A1: "Artificial heart pump equipped with hydrodynamic bearing"

   • Full Citation: US20040236420A1, Inventor: Takashi Yamane, Assignee: Takashi Yamane.
   • Publication Date: 2004-11-25
   • Brief Description: This patent application describes an artificial heart pump that utilizes a hydrodynamic bearing to support the impeller without mechanical contact. The primary advantage is preventing blood coagulation and hemolysis by eliminating contact points.
   • Potential Anticipation (35 U.S.C. § 102): This reference is highly relevant to the feature that the "magnetically driven rotor remains adjacent to and spaced apart from the surrounding rotor housing by the blood flowing from the inflow tube and to the blood outflow port" (Claim 1) or being "entirely spaced apart from the surrounding rotor housing by a gap during rotation of the magnetically driven rotor" (Claim 10, 32). It teaches the concept of using the pumped fluid itself for bearing support. However, it does not explicitly disclose the specific magnetically driven rotor, the "first magnetic device" and "second magnetic device" magneto coupling across a sealed wall, or an intravascular catheter pump with radial outflow.

In summary, while several prior art references disclose aspects such as intravascular pumps (US4895557A), magnetically driven/levitated rotors (US5470208A, US5928131A), fluid-film bearings (WO2001070300A1, US20040236420A1), and external control systems based on cardiac function (WO1999015213A1, US6506146B1), none appear to fully anticipate the specific combination of features in US11674517, particularly: an intravascular rotary pump where an outer magnetically driven rotor is driven by an inner magnetic device via a magneto coupling across a sealed wall, with radial blood outflow and the rotor hydrodynamically or fluid-film spaced by blood within the housing. The unique drive mechanism with the sealed magneto coupling across a physical barrier within a catheter, as well as the specific radial outflow, are key distinguishing features.

Obviousness Analysis Under 35 U.S.C. § 103 for US Patent 11674517

This analysis identifies combinations of prior art references that would render the claims of US Patent 11674517 obvious to a person having ordinary skill in the art (PHOSITA), along with the motivation for such combinations. The independent claims, Claim 1 and Claim 21, define a heart assist system with a catheter-deliverable, magnetically driven rotary pump operating within the heart, featuring a sealed magnetic coupling and an external control unit responsive to cardiac output.

Primary Combination: AT 407 960 B + US4895557A + WO1999015213A1

This combination leverages a foundational cardiac assist system, an intravascular delivery mechanism with fluid power, and a specific magnetic coupling and bearing technology.

1. Primary Reference: AT 407 960 B

• Disclosure: AT 407 960 B describes a device for assisting heart performance where fluid is removed from blood vessels via an external pump and returned into blood vessels via a return catheter. The key innovation lies in regulating the returned fluid quantity as a function of measurement values obtained from a heart ventricle catheter. This catheter is equipped with sensors to measure fluid volume per unit of time within the cardiac chamber, and an evaluation circuit assesses parameters like the ratio of diastolic to systolic volume or deviation from a defined cardiac output. The generated signal is then used to control the external pump.
• Mapping to US11674517 Claims: This reference clearly teaches a system for assisting blood circulation of a heart, including an external control unit configured to regulate pump operation based on measurement values from a heart ventricle catheter, from which cardiac output is determined (as in claim 21, "control value indicative of a defined cardiac output").
• Missing Elements: As explicitly noted in US11674517's summary, AT 407 960 B's pump is external and lacks the specific features of an intravasal rotary pump at the periphery or distal end of the catheter, where the rotor is on the outside and connected via a magneto coupling to a drive inside the catheter.

2. Secondary Reference 1: US4895557A (Nimbus Medical, Inc.)

• Disclosure: US4895557A provides a drive mechanism for intravascular blood pumps. It details a catheter for insertion into a blood vessel, housing an elongated flexible shaft that extends to an impeller located at the distal end. This impeller pumps blood. The drive shaft is hydraulically or pneumatically powered by a drive turbine at the proximal end of the catheter. The patent also describes sensors for monitoring blood flow or pressure, connected to a control system for regulating pump operation.
• Motivation to Combine with AT 407 960 B: A PHOSITA would be motivated to incorporate an intravascular pump into the cardiac assist system of AT 407 960 B to enhance the directness and efficiency of cardiac support. The external pump in AT 407 960 B might be seen as less agile or requiring more invasive external connections. US4895557A provides a practical intravascular pump deliverable via a catheter, directly addressing this limitation. Furthermore, the general control system of US4895557A could be readily integrated with the specific, data-driven cardiac output regulation mechanism taught by AT 407 960 B, resulting in a more sophisticated and responsive intravascular assist system. This combination provides a "heart assist pump device deliverable to the heart" with an "inflow tube defining a blood inflow path and having a suction end insertable into a ventricle" and a hydraulically/pneumatically powered internal drive.

3. Secondary Reference 2: WO1999015213A1 (Werner Mohl)

• Disclosure: This patent, by the same inventor as US11674517, describes a heart assistance device featuring a blood pump with an impeller driven by a magnetic coupling. Critically, this pump is positioned in the vessel system (intravasal). The rotor of the impeller is mounted by hydraulic forces, without contact, and is rotationally driven by a magnet system which is also arranged in the vessel system, by means of a magnetic coupling.
• Motivation to Combine with (AT 407 960 B + US4895557A): A PHOSITA would recognize the significant advantages of integrating the magnetic coupling and contact-free (hydraulic/fluid gap) bearing technology from WO1999015213A1 into the intravascular pump of US4895557A. The flexible drive shaft in US4895557A presents known drawbacks, such as mechanical wear, potential for blood trauma (hemolysis), and challenges in achieving a hermetic seal. WO1999015213A1 explicitly provides solutions to these problems by utilizing a magnetic coupling to drive the impeller and employing hydraulic forces for contact-free rotation, thereby eliminating mechanical bearings and their associated issues. This directly aligns with the stated objective of US11674517 to minimize mechanical stress on blood and achieve a "completely impervious separation of the rotor from the drive wheel".
  A PHOSITA would readily adapt the fluid-driven power mechanism of US4895557A (e.g., a fluid-driven paddle wheel, as described in US11674517's Detailed Description and implicitly covered by Claim 6's "hydraulically or pneumatically operated drive wheel") to rotate the internal magnet system (the "second magnetic device") of WO1999015213A1. This internal magnet system would then magnetically couple with the rotor's magnet (the "first magnetic device"), driving the blood-contacting impeller in a sealed, contact-free manner at the distal end of the catheter. The axial alignment and spacing of the magnetic devices, as depicted in US11674517 (FIG. 2), would be an obvious engineering choice for implementing such a magnetic coupling within the confines of a catheter. The impeller's design would also foreseeably include guide surfaces to produce centrifugal flow components, leading to a blood outflow port positioned radially adjacent the rotor, allowing blood to exit transversely to the central axis, as described in US11674517.

Conclusion

The combination of AT 407 960 B, US4895557A, and WO1999015213A1 renders the system described in US11674517 obvious under 35 U.S.C. § 103. The references collectively disclose all the elements of independent claims 1 and 21, and a PHOSITA would have been motivated to combine these teachings to create a more effective, safer, and less traumatic intravascular cardiac assist system. This motivation is driven by recognized problems in the art concerning mechanical drive systems in blood pumps and the clear benefits of magnetic drive and contact-free bearings for reducing blood trauma and improving device reliability within the vascular system.