An implantable medical device includes a functional unit, an introducer unit for introducing and/or navigating the functional unit in a lumen of body conduit(s) of a subject, and an elongated operable element connectable to a controller for operating the functional unit though the elongated operable element in a lumen of body conduit(s) of the subject. The functional unit, introducer unit, and elongated operable element may be in a slidable relationship for assembling and unassembling the implantable medical device in vivo. The implantable medical device is implantable, explantable, and operable in a lumen of body conduit(s) of a subject according to related methods.

Apparatus and methods are described including a blood pump that includes an impeller configured to be delivered through vasculature of a subject while the impeller is in a radially-constrained configuration. The impeller is configured to self-expand to a non-radially-constrained configuration, and to pump blood while in the non-radially-constrained configuration. A ratio between (a) a diameter of the impeller when the impeller is in its non-radially-constrained configuration at a location at which the diameter of the impeller is at its maximum and (b) a diameter of the impeller when the impeller is in its radially-constrained configuration is greater than 7:2. Other applications are also described.

Apparatus and methods are described including a blood pump that includes an impeller configured to be delivered through vasculature of a subject while the impeller is in a radially-constrained configuration. The impeller is configured to self-expand to a non-radially-constrained configuration, and to pump blood while in the non-radially-constrained configuration. A ratio between (a) a diameter of the impeller when the impeller is in its non-radially-constrained configuration at a location at which the diameter of the impeller is at its maximum and (b) a diameter of the impeller when the impeller is in its radially-constrained configuration is greater than 7:2. Other applications are also described.

Apparatus and methods are described including a blood pump configured to be placed inside a body of subject. The blood pump includes an impeller, a frame disposed around the impeller, and a distal-tip portion disposed distally with respect to the frame. A duckbill valve is disposed entirely within a distal most 10 mm of the distal-tip portion. The duckbill valve defines a wide inlet and a narrow tip that defines a slit therethrough. The duckbill valve is proximally facing, such that the wide inlet faces a distal end of the distal-tip portion and such that the narrow tip faces away from the distal end of distal-tip portion. Other applications are also described.

Apparatus and methods are described including a blood pump configured to be placed inside a body of subject. The blood pump includes an impeller, a frame disposed around the impeller, and a distal-tip portion disposed distally with respect to the frame. A duckbill valve is disposed entirely within a distal most 10 mm of the distal-tip portion. The duckbill valve defines a wide inlet and a narrow tip that defines a slit therethrough. The duckbill valve is proximally facing, such that the wide inlet faces a distal end of the distal-tip portion and such that the narrow tip faces away from the distal end of distal-tip portion. Other applications are also described.

A method of determining a presence of suction in a patient having an implantable blood pump from down-sampled log files. The method comprising calculating a waveform index for each of a plurality of flow rate data points from the down-sampled log files. The calculated waveform index is compared with a predetermined waveform index threshold. A non-suction trough baseline is calculated from the plurality of flow rate data points. A difference between a measured trough and a calculated non-suction trough baseline is compared with a predetermined threshold. The presence of suction for each of the plurality of flow rate data points is determined if the calculated waveform index is greater than the predetermined waveform index threshold and the difference between the measured trough and a calculated non-suction trough baseline is greater than the predetermined threshold.

A method of determining a presence of suction in a patient having an implantable blood pump from down-sampled log files. The method comprising calculating a waveform index for each of a plurality of flow rate data points from the down-sampled log files. The calculated waveform index is compared with a predetermined waveform index threshold. A non-suction trough baseline is calculated from the plurality of flow rate data points. A difference between a measured trough and a calculated non-suction trough baseline is compared with a predetermined threshold. The presence of suction for each of the plurality of flow rate data points is determined if the calculated waveform index is greater than the predetermined waveform index threshold and the difference between the measured trough and a calculated non-suction trough baseline is greater than the predetermined threshold.

A percutaneous circulatory support system includes a percutaneous circulatory support device having an impeller and a distal portion. A guidewire insertion aide is removably carried in the distal portion of the percutaneous circulatory support device. The guidewire insertion aide includes a tapered distal end portion initially in contact with the distal portion of the percutaneous circulatory support device. The guidewire insertion aide is configured to couple to a guidewire.

A percutaneous circulatory support system includes a percutaneous circulatory support device having an impeller and a distal portion. A guidewire insertion aide is removably carried in the distal portion of the percutaneous circulatory support device. The guidewire insertion aide includes a tapered distal end portion initially in contact with the distal portion of the percutaneous circulatory support device. The guidewire insertion aide is configured to couple to a guidewire.

Catheter blood pumps that include an expandable pump portion. The pump portions include a collapsible blood conduit that defines a blood lumen. The collapsible blood conduits include a collapsible scaffold adapted to provide radial support to the blood conduit. The pump portion also includes one or more impellers.