An aspiration system includes a plurality of catheters located at least partially within the lumen of an outer sheath. The outer sheath and the catheters are configured to slide relative to each other between a first state in which the distal ends of the catheters are located within the lumen of the outer sheath, and a second state in which the distal end and an end length section of each catheter is extended through the distal end of the outer sheath and outside of the lumen of the outer sheath. The end length section of each catheter is configured to spring or flare outward relative to the first state, when the outer sheath and the plurality of catheters are in the second state. The distal end of the outer sheath may be placed in an inferior vena cava or iliac vein in a transplant kidney patient, adjacent at least one renal vein, with the outer sheath and the plurality of catheters in the first state. Then, the system may be transitioned to the second state to cause the end length sections of the catheters to spring or flare outward adjacent the renal vein. The catheters are connected to a suction source for aspiration through the catheter end length sections.

An aspiration system includes a plurality of catheters located at least partially within the lumen of an outer sheath. The outer sheath and the catheters are configured to slide relative to each other between a first state in which the distal ends of the catheters are located within the lumen of the outer sheath, and a second state in which the distal end and an end length section of each catheter is extended through the distal end of the outer sheath and outside of the lumen of the outer sheath. The end length section of each catheter is configured to spring or flare outward relative to the first state, when the outer sheath and the plurality of catheters are in the second state. The distal end of the outer sheath may be placed in an inferior vena cava or iliac vein in a transplant kidney patient, adjacent at least one renal vein, with the outer sheath and the plurality of catheters in the first state. Then, the system may be transitioned to the second state to cause the end length sections of the catheters to spring or flare outward adjacent the renal vein. The catheters are connected to a suction source for aspiration through the catheter end length sections.

A circulatory assist apparatus comprising: an inflatable pumping balloon having a proximal end joined to an elongated balloon catheter, the balloon catheter having a distal end joined to the pumping balloon and a proximal end, separated from the distal end by a length sufficient to extend from within a circulatory lumen to the outside of a patient's body, for receiving positive and negative pressure pulses from a pump to inflate and deflate the pumping balloon; and a radially expandable frame, mounted on one of a segment extending distally from the pumping balloon, the balloon catheter, and a sleeve tube surrounding the balloon catheter. The expandable frame is manipulate to expand within the circulatory lumen, and functions to space apart the inflatable balloon from the circulatory lumen, having a first diameter in a collapsed configuration for intraluminal delivery and a second, larger diameter in an expanded configuration achieved by said manipulation.

A blood flow assist system can include an impeller assembly including an impeller shaft and an impeller on the impeller shaft, a primary flow pathway disposed along an exterior surface of the impeller. The system can include a rotor assembly at a proximal portion of the impeller shaft. A secondary flow pathway can be disposed along a lumen of the impeller shaft. During operation of the blood flow assist system, blood can be pumped proximally along the primary flow pathway and the secondary flow pathway. The system can include a sleeve bearing distal the impeller. The system can include a drive unit having a distal end disposed distal a proximal end of the second impeller. The drive unit comprising a drive magnet and a drive bearing between the drive magnet and the impeller assembly.

Temporary vascular occlusion devices and methods for use thereof are described which provide temporary vascular occlusion while maintaining distal perfusion. The temporary vascular occlusion device may include a multiple layer scaffold covering having proximal and distal attachment zones separated by an unattached scaffold covering zone where the scaffold covering is adjacent to but not attached directly to the scaffold frame.

A minimally invasive circulatory support platform that utilizes an aortic stent pump or pumps. The platform uses a low profile catheter-based techniques and provides temporary and chronic circulatory support depending on the needs of the patient. Further described is a wirelessly powered circulatory assist pump for providing chronic circulatory support to, for example, heart failure patients. The platform and system are relatively easy to place, have higher flow rates than existing systems, and provide improvements in the patient's renal function.

A minimally invasive circulatory support device, system, and related methods. The circulatory assist devices, systems, and methods use low profile catheter-based techniques and provide temporary and chronic circulatory support depending on the needs of the patient. The circulatory assist device, systems, and methods include a stent cage and an impeller. The stent cage is formed of a first material that is sufficiently rigid to expand radially outward and press against an artery wall is sufficiently deformable to collapse within the outer sheath. The impeller includes at least one blade formed of a second material that is sufficiently rigid to expand and retain shape while rotating and assisting blood to flow within the artery and is sufficiently deformable to collapse within the outer sheath with the stent cage.

System for assisting vascular fluid flow body comprising: Fluid pump having an inlet for fluid in the vascular system to enter and an outlet for discharging pumped fluid into the vascular system at a fluid pump outlet pressure. Occluder placed into the vascular system at a location downstream of the outlet of the fluid pump. Occluder having a configuration in which the occluder occludes the vascular system and a configuration in which pumped is capable of flowing past the occluder. In use, the occluder being actuatable to alternate between the occluded configuration, in which pumped fluid accumulates in the vascular system becoming increasingly under pressure via elastic deformation of vessels, and the flow configuration, in which accumulated pumped fluid under pressure flows past the occluder at a greater pressure than the fluid pump outlet pressure, returning the elastically deformed vessels towards their original state.

System for assisting vascular fluid flow body comprising: Fluid pump having an inlet for fluid in the vascular system to enter and an outlet for discharging pumped fluid into the vascular system at a fluid pump outlet pressure. Occluder placed into the vascular system at a location downstream of the outlet of the fluid pump. Occluder having a configuration in which the occluder occludes the vascular system and a configuration in which pumped is capable of flowing past the occluder. In use, the occluder being actuatable to alternate between the occluded configuration, in which pumped fluid accumulates in the vascular system becoming increasingly under pressure via elastic deformation of vessels, and the flow configuration, in which accumulated pumped fluid under pressure flows past the occluder at a greater pressure than the fluid pump outlet pressure, returning the elastically deformed vessels towards their original state.

A temporary, removable mechanical circulatory support heart-assist device has at least two propellers or impellers. Each propeller or impeller has a number of blades arranged around an axis of rotation. The blades are configured to pump blood. The two propellers or impellers rotate in opposite directions from each other. The device can be configured to be implanted and removed with minimally invasive surgery.