A blood pump (1) comprises a pump casing (2) having a blood flow inlet (5) and a blood flow outlet (6) connected by a passage (7), and an impeller (3) arranged in said pump casing (2) so as to be rotatable about an axis of rotation (9). The impeller (2) is provided with blades (4) sized and shaped for conveying blood along the passage (7) from the blood flow inlet (5) to the blood flow outlet (6), the impeller (3) being rotatably supported in the pump casing (2) by at least one bearing (10, 20). A surface of the impeller (3) faces a surface of the pump casing (2) spaced from said surface of the impeller (3) by a clearance (31), the clearance (31) being in fluid connection with the passage (7) at a clearance transition point (36). In order to wash out the clearance, at least one wash out channel (30) extends through the impeller (3) and is in fluid connection with the passage (7) via a first opening (34) and with the clearance (31) via a second opening (35). The first opening (34) of the wash out channel (30) is arranged in an area of the impeller (3) that—during operation of the blood pump (1)—is under a higher pressure than the clearance transition point (36) so as to cause a blood flow from the first opening (34) through the wash out channel (30) and the clearance (31) to the clearance transition point (36).

The invention relates to a micromotor (10), the stator of which contains a back iron jacket (18). Said back iron jacket consists of a continuous unslotted sleeve consisting of a metal alloy that contains ferritic iron as the main constituent, up to 30% chromium and preferably aluminium and yttrium oxide. Electric conductivity is reduced by the oxidation of the aluminium. The yttrium oxide performs the same function. The reduced electric conductivity suppresses eddy currents to a great extent. The back iron jacket (18) has a high magnetic conductivity with a small wall thickness, thus increasing the electrical output for a motor with a small diameter.

A catheter pump assembly is provided that includes an elongate body, an elongate flexible shaft disposed in the elongate body, and an impeller coupled with the distal end of the elongate flexible shaft. The drive system includes a drive component, a motor and a tension member. The tension member is coupled with the motor and the drive component and to cause the drive component to rotate, and thereby to cause the impeller to rotate.

A catheter pump assembly is provided that includes an elongate body, an elongate flexible shaft disposed in the elongate body, and an impeller coupled with the distal end of the elongate flexible shaft. The drive system includes a drive component, a motor and a tension member. The tension member is coupled with the motor and the drive component and to cause the drive component to rotate, and thereby to cause the impeller to rotate.

A blood pump comprises a pump casing having a blood flow inlet and a blood flow outlet connected by a passage, and an impeller arranged in said pump casing so as to be rotatable about an axis of rotation. The impeller is provided with blades sized and shaped for conveying blood along the passage from the blood flow inlet to the blood flow outlet, and is rotatably supported in the pump casing by a first bearing at a first axial end of the impeller and a second bearing axially spaced apart from the first bearing. The first bearing comprises a projection extending along the axis of rotation and connected to one of the impeller and the pump casing and a cavity in the other one of the impeller and the pump casing, the projection comprising an enlarged portion that engages the cavity such that the first bearing and the second bearing are arranged to bear axial forces in the same axial direction.

Sensors for catheter pumps are disclosed herein. The catheter pump can include a catheter assembly comprising a catheter and a cannula coupled to a distal portion of the catheter. The cannula can have a proximal port for permitting the flow of blood therethrough. The catheter assembly can include a sensor to be disposed near the proximal port. A processing unit can be programmed to process a signal detected by the sensor. The processing unit can comprise a computer-readable set of rules to evaluate the signal to determine a position of the cannula relative to an aortic valve of a patient.

A ventricular assist device for use in a human recipient includes a housing within which a series pair of turbine pump segments and at least one set of deswirlers are operative. The series pair of turbine pump segments provides a redundancy in turn enhances the safety factor provided by the ventricular assist device. A controller is powered by a rechargeable battery and is operative to apply appropriate drive signals to the motor drives of the turbine pump segments. The battery may be implanted along with the controller to avoid the need for any external connections to the ventricular assist device. An inductively coupled battery charger for use outside the recipient's body is positioned proximate the battery charger to provide inductively coupled charging for use in driving the ventricular assist device.

A ventricular assist device for use in a human recipient includes a housing within which a series pair of turbine pump segments, each having a deswirler, are operative. The series pair of turbine pump segments provides a redundancy which in turn enhances the safety factor provided by the ventricular assist device.

A prosthetic heart valve either of the mechanical type or the bio prosthetic type, comprises a tubular or cylindrical frame element, a plurality of injectors, a suturing member surrounding the tubular or cylindrical frame element, tether lines to secure the device during diastolic filling but more predominantly during systolic contraction that creates a vortex effect with externally supplied pressurized fluid injected angularly within a transport structure is provided. Such a unit is utilized to accelerate the hemodynamics, reduce the energy required for said transport or both. The annular frame is designed to allow a passageway for blood flow and regulating flow during systolic contraction. Such a result is achieved through the introduction of pressurized fluid (blood) via a plurality of injectors situated evenly around the circumference of the subject tubular or cylindrical unit, and angled uniformly for an even pressure injection of fluid within the conveyance component thereof.

Sensors for catheter pumps are disclosed herein. The catheter pump can include a catheter assembly comprising a catheter and a cannula coupled to a distal portion of the catheter. The cannula can have a proximal port for permitting the flow of blood therethrough. The catheter assembly can include a sensor to be disposed near the proximal port. A processing unit can be programmed to process a signal detected by the sensor. The processing unit can comprise a computer-readable set of rules to evaluate the signal to determine a position of the cannula relative to an aortic valve of a patient.