Apparatus and methods are described including an axial shaft configured for insertion into, and rotation within, a ventricle of a heart of a subject. An impeller is coupled to the axial shaft and a frame surrounds the impeller. A pump-outlet tube surrounds the frame such that, as the axial shaft rotates, the impeller pumps blood proximally, from the ventricle, through the pump-outlet tube. A flat inlet guard, which is shaped to define one or more holes, is disposed around, and perpendicular to, the axial shaft and within the frame distally to the impeller, such that the blood flows to the impeller via the holes. Other applications are also described.

Apparatus and methods are described including a blood pump that includes an axial shaft configured for insertion, over a guidewire, into a subject's body, and for rotation within the subject's body. The axial shaft is shaped to define a shaft lumen for passage of the guidewire therethrough. An impeller is coupled to the axial shaft such that, as the axial shaft rotates, the impeller pumps blood of the subject. A thrust bearing is disposed distally from the axial shaft so as to inhibit distal movement of the axial shaft beyond the thrust bearing. The thrust bearing is shaped to define a bearing lumen that is configured to be continuous with the shaft lumen. At least a portion of the bearing lumen is frustoconically-shaped, a wider end of the frustoconically-shaped portion of the bearing lumen facing distally. Other applications are also described.

Apparatus and methods are described including a blood pump that includes an axial shaft configured for insertion into, and rotation within, a subject's body, and an impeller coupled to the axial shaft such that, as the axial shaft rotates, the impeller pumps blood of the subject. A frame surrounds the impeller and includes a distal conical portion. A bearing adjacent to the axial shaft is configured to stabilize the axial shaft while the axial shaft rotates. A bearing housing houses the bearing. The bearing housing is disposed at least partly within the distal conical portion of the frame such that at least 50% of the length of the bearing housing is disposed within the frame. Other applications are also described.

Apparatus and methods are described including inserting a drive-cable end of a drive cable, which includes a plurality of coiled wires, and a hollow-shaft end of a hollow shaft, which hollow-shaft end is shaped to define multiple shaft pores, into opposing ends of a coupling tube, which is shaped to define multiple coupling-tube pores. While the drive-cable end and hollow-shaft end are inside the coupling tube, a molten material is flowed between the coiled wires at the drive-cable end via the coupling-tube pores, and into the hollow-shaft end via the coupling-tube pores and shaft pores, such that, upon solidifying, the material bonds the drive cable to the shaft. Other applications are also described.

Endovascular prostheses used to treat diseased blood vessels, such as arteries, are disclosed. In some embodiments, an endovascular prosthesis is configured to be implanted within a diseased blood vessel adjacent a diseased section. The endovascular prosthesis may include a fenestration tube through which a guidewire extends in a sealed configuration. The fenestration tube can be selectively openable and configured to sealingly receive an expandable endovascular prosthesis that extends into a side branch vessel of the diseased blood vessel.

Apparatus and methods are described including a device configured for insertion into a left ventricle of a heart of a subject. A delivery tube is coupled to the device and configured to traverse an aortic arch of the subject while the device is within the left ventricle. An elongation-resistant fiber runs axially along the delivery tube so as to bias an orientation of the delivery tube while the delivery tube traverses the aortic arch such that the elongation-resistant fiber is disposed inside a curve of the aortic arch, thereby biasing an orientation of the device. Other applications are also described.

Disclosed herein are systems and methods relating to an implant device, such as a heart pump. The implant device may comprise an implant, a fastening device, a release device, and a transfer device. The implant may be shaped for implantation in a vascular canal. The fastening device may have a coupling section that is coupled to the implant and is movable between a fastening position, in which the fastening device is configured to fasten the implant in the vascular canal, and a release device, which may be configured to transfer the fastening device to a release position and releases the implant. The transfer device may be coupled to the fastening device and is adapted to cause transfer of the fastening device between the fastening position and the release position in response to an actuation.

Apparatus and methods are described including a left-ventricular assist device that includes a pump-outlet tube shaped to define one or more blood-outlet openings and including a narrower section, and a wider section, which is proximal to and wider than the narrower section, and which is shaped to define at least a portion of each of the blood-outlet openings such that a normal vector to the portion has a distally-facing component. The pump-outlet tube is inserted, through the subject's aorta, into the subject's left ventricle such that the pump-outlet tube traverses an aortic valve of the subject with the blood-outlet openings being disposed within the aorta. An impeller is disposed within the narrower section of the pump-outlet tube and is configured to pump blood of the subject, through the blood-outlet openings, from the left ventricle into the aorta. Other applications are also described.

Apparatus and methods are provided, including inserting a drive-cable-bearing tube, which includes one or more inwardly-facing ceramic portions, into a body of a subject and through an aorta of the subject, such that the inwardly-facing ceramic portions are within an aortic arch of the subject, while a drive cable, which is coupled to an intracorporeal device at a distal end of the drive-cable-bearing tube and includes one or more outwardly-facing ceramic portions, passes through the drive-cable-bearing tube such that the outwardly-facing ceramic portions are aligned with the inwardly-facing ceramic portions. The drive cable is rotated within the drive-cable-bearing tube, thereby rotating the intracorporeal device, while the outwardly-facing ceramic portions are aligned with the inwardly-facing ceramic portions. Other applications are also described.

Apparatus and methods are described including inserting a drive-cable end of a drive cable, which includes a plurality of coiled wires, and a hollow-shaft end of a hollow shaft, which hollow-shaft end is shaped to define multiple shaft pores, into opposing ends of a coupling tube having a wall shaped to define multiple tabs. The drive cable is coupled to the shaft by pushing at least some of the tabs into the shaft pores, respectively. Other applications are also described.