An impeller for a pump is disclosed herein. The impeller can include a hub having a fixed end and a free end. The impeller can also have a plurality of blades supported by the hub. Each blade can have a fixed end coupled to the hub and a free end. The impeller can have a stored configuration and a deployed configuration, the blades in the deployed configuration extending away from the hub, and the blades in the stored configuration being compressed against the hub.

Apparatus and methods are described including a tube configured to traverse a subject's aortic valve. A frame is disposed within a portion of the tube, and an impeller is disposed inside the tube such that, when the impeller and the tube are deployed inside the subject, a gap between an outer edge of the impeller and an inner surface of the tube is less than 1 mm. The impeller rotates such as to pump blood from the left ventricle to the aorta, and is stabilized with respect to the tube, such that, during rotation of the impeller, the gap between the outer edge of the impeller and the inner surface of the tube is maintained. The impeller includes at least one impeller blade defined by a helical elongate element, and a film of material supported by the helical elongate element. Other applications are also described.

Apparatus and methods are described including coupling a rigid tube to a drive cable that comprises a plurality of coiled wires, by placing ends of the drive cable and the rigid tube at a given location within a butt-welding overtube. The ends of the drive cable and the rigid tube are visible when they are disposed at the given location within the butt-welding overtube, via a window defined by the butt-welding overtube. The placement of the drive cable within the butt-welding overtube is such that a helical groove within a portion of the butt-welding overtube is disposed over the drive cable. Welding rings are formed around the butt-welding overtube. Other applications are also described.

The catheter device comprises a drive shaft connected to a motor, and a rotor mounted on the drive shaft at the distal end section. The rotor has a frame structure which is formed by a screw-like boundary frame and rotor struts extending radially inwards from the boundary frame. The rotor struts are fastened to the drive shaft by their ends opposite the boundary frame. Between the boundary frame and the drive shaft extends an elastic covering. The frame structure is made of an elastic material such that, after forced compression, the rotor unfolds automatically.

The invention relates to a motor with a stator (2, 2′) and a rotor (1, 1′), which can be driven about an axial direction (4). The invention is characterized in that at least one of the stator and the rotor, in particular the stator, which has a winding arrangement that can be supplied with a current, can be radially compressed and expanded.

An intracorporeal device is provided for supporting heart function of a patient. The intracorporeal device is configured to be secured across at least two anatomical walls of the heart. The intracorporeal device is configured to be secured to one or more anatomical walls by a connector. The connector is arranged to be positioned across one or more anatomical walls.

Microplegia systems describe herein use syringe pumps that are controlled in a coordinated fashion to deliver cardioplegia medications during an open-heart surgery at the prescribed dosages and/or rates. The microplegia systems link the delivery rate of the syringe pumps with the delivery rate of the cardioplegia blood flow rate. A perfusionist can enter prescribed drug concentrations, desired ratios between drug and blood, and the expected dose for each phase of the myocardial protection scheme that will take place during the open-heart surgery. Additionally, or alternatively, the syringe pump systems described herein can also be used to deliver other non-cardioplegia types of therapeutic substances

In various embodiments, a catheter pump is disclosed herein. The catheter pump can include an elongated catheter body having a distal portion including an expandable cannula having an inlet and an outlet. The expandable cannula can have a delivery profile and an operational profile larger than the delivery profile. An impeller assembly can include an impeller shaft, and an impeller body can include one or more blades. The impeller blades can draw blood into the cannula when rotated. Further, an expandable support can have a mounting portion disposed on the impeller shaft distal of the impeller body and a cannula contact portion for reducing a change in tip gap due to bending of the cannula. The cannula contact portion can be disposed distal of the mounting portion.

An impeller includes a hub, and a plurality of blades supported by the hub, the blades being arranged in at least two blade rows. The impeller has a deployed configuration in which the blades extend away from the hub, and a stored configuration in which at least one of the blades is radially compressed, for example by folding the blade towards the hub. The impeller may also have an operational configuration in which at least some of the blades are deformed from the deployed configuration upon rotation of the impeller when in the deployed configuration. The outer edge of one or more blades may have a winglet, and the base of the blades may have an associated indentation to facilitate folding of the blades.

To provide a simple embodiment of a rotor for a fluid pump which is nevertheless very flexible in handling and compressible, in accordance with the invention a conveying blade is provided having at least two struts and a membrane spanned between them in the expanded state, wherein the struts each have at least one joint, in particular more than one joint, which enables an angling in a first direction in a first movement plane and bounds an overelongation beyond an elongation angle of in particular 180° in the opposite second direction. In particular when a plurality of joints are provided at the struts, they, and with them the conveying blades, are particularly flexible for simple compressibility.