Apparatus and methods are described including a blood pump that is placed inside a body of subject. The blood pump includes an impeller that includes proximal and distal bushings, and that defines an axial lumen that extends from the proximal bushing to the distal bushing, a frame disposed around the impeller, and an axial shaft that passes through the proximal and distal bushings of the impeller. A distal end of a delivery catheter, and the frame and the impeller, are configured to be moved with respect to one another, to thereby cause the frame to assume a radially-constrained configuration by the frame becoming axially elongated, and cause the impeller to assume a radially-constrained configuration by the impeller becoming axially elongated. Other applications are also described.

Apparatus and methods are described including a blood pump that is placed inside a body of subject. The blood pump includes an impeller that includes proximal and distal bushings, and that defines an axial lumen that extends from the proximal bushing to the distal bushing, a frame disposed around the impeller, and an axial shaft that passes through the proximal and distal bushings of the impeller. A distal end of a delivery catheter, and the frame and the impeller, are configured to be moved with respect to one another, to thereby cause the frame to assume a radially-constrained configuration by the frame becoming axially elongated, and cause the impeller to assume a radially-constrained configuration by the impeller becoming axially elongated. Other applications are also described.

Apparatus and methods are described including placing, into a subject's body, a blood-pump tube, with a blood pump disposed within the blood-pump tube. At least one blood-pressure-measurement tube, which defines an opening at a distal end thereof, extends to at least an outer surface of the blood-pump tube, such that the opening at the distal end of the blood-pressure-measurement tube is in direct fluid communication with a bloodstream of the subject outside the blood-pump tube. Blood is pumped through the blood-pump tube, using the blood pump. Pressure of the bloodstream of the subject outside the blood-pump tube is measured by measuring pressure of blood within the blood-pressure-measurement tube. Other applications are also described.

Apparatus and methods are described including placing, into a subject's body, a blood-pump tube, with a blood pump disposed within the blood-pump tube. At least one blood-pressure-measurement tube, which defines an opening at a distal end thereof, extends to at least an outer surface of the blood-pump tube, such that the opening at the distal end of the blood-pressure-measurement tube is in direct fluid communication with a bloodstream of the subject outside the blood-pump tube. Blood is pumped through the blood-pump tube, using the blood pump. Pressure of the bloodstream of the subject outside the blood-pump tube is measured by measuring pressure of blood within the blood-pressure-measurement tube. Other applications are also described.

A shaft bearing device for a pump includes an antifriction bearing, which can be connected to an axially displaceable pump shaft. A spring is arranged at the antifriction bearing in such a way, that a spring force can be transmitted to an outer ring of the antifriction bearing by the spring in a mounting condition of the shaft bearing device. A lifting element attached to the pump shaft and a corresponding counter element are separated from each other by the spring force in a starting state and/or in a shutdown state of the pump.

A shaft bearing device for a pump includes an antifriction bearing, which can be connected to an axially displaceable pump shaft. A spring is arranged at the antifriction bearing in such a way, that a spring force can be transmitted to an outer ring of the antifriction bearing by the spring in a mounting condition of the shaft bearing device. A lifting element attached to the pump shaft and a corresponding counter element are separated from each other by the spring force in a starting state and/or in a shutdown state of the pump.

A hydrodynamic heater pump may include a housing and a stator fixed relative to the housing. A rotor may be coaxially aligned with and positioned adjacent the stator. The rotor and the stator define an interior region of a hydrodynamic chamber operable for heating a fluid present within the interior region of the hydrodynamic chamber. The rotor may be attached to a drive shaft for concurrent rotation therewith. The rotor may be moved axially along an axis of rotation of the drive shaft between a pumping mode position and a heating mode position. The rotor may be located a first distance from the stator when arranged in the heating mode position and a second distance from the stator when arranged in the pumping mode position. The second distance may be greater than the first distance.

Technologies are described for devices and methods for adjusting a position of impellers within a bowl assembly. The devices may comprise an adjuster at the second end of a spacer coupling. The adjuster may include an adjuster sleeve. The adjuster sleeve may be a cylindrical sleeve. The adjuster sleeve may be threaded on an internal side. The adjuster sleeve may be spaced from the driven hub so that the adjuster sleeve can rotate around a driven shaft. The adjuster sleeve may threadedly mate and engage with an externally threaded first end of the driven shaft when the adjuster sleeve is rotated. The rotation of the adjuster sleeve may adjust a position of the driven shaft with respect to the driven hub and may thereby adjust a position of an impeller attached to a second end of the driven shaft with respect to a stationary bowl.

Technologies are described for devices and methods for adjusting a position of impellers within a bowl assembly. The devices may comprise an adjuster at the second end of a spacer coupling. The adjuster may include an adjuster sleeve. The adjuster sleeve may be a cylindrical sleeve. The adjuster sleeve may be threaded on an internal side. The adjuster sleeve may be spaced from the driven hub so that the adjuster sleeve can rotate around a driven shaft. The adjuster sleeve may threadedly mate and engage with an externally threaded first end of the driven shaft when the adjuster sleeve is rotated. The rotation of the adjuster sleeve may adjust a position of the driven shaft with respect to the driven hub and may thereby adjust a position of an impeller attached to a second end of the driven shaft with respect to a stationary bowl.

Apparatus and methods are described including a blood pump that includes an axial shaft, an impeller disposed on the axial shaft, a frame disposed around the impeller, and a motor disposed outside a subject's body, and configured to drive the impeller to pump blood from a distal end of the impeller to a proximal end of the impeller. A drive cable extends from outside the subject's body to the axial shaft, and is configured to impart rotational motion from the motor to the impeller by rotating. The drive cable is held in a preloaded state with respect to the frame, such that initiation of pumping of blood by rotation of the impeller does not cause the drive cable to axially elongate. Other applications are also described.