In draining liquid in an AV-coupling-type blood circuit, it is determined that the blood circuit is in an AV-coupled state. A blood purification apparatus can switch between an open state in which fluid can flow through a blood removal side circuit and a blood return side circuit and a closed state in which the fluid cannot flow therethrough. The apparatus generates a difference in pressure between the blood removal side circuit and the blood return side circuit by rotating a blood pump in the case of the closed state. The apparatus then determines whether the blood circuit is the closed circuit by switching to the open state and monitoring the difference in pressure from detecting pressure inside the blood circuit. The apparatus drains liquid remaining in the blood circuit to a predetermined drainage destination with the blood circuit forming the closed circuit.

In draining liquid in an AV-coupling-type blood circuit, it is determined that the blood circuit is in an AV-coupled state. A blood purification apparatus can switch between an open state in which fluid can flow through a blood removal side circuit and a blood return side circuit and a closed state in which the fluid cannot flow therethrough. The apparatus generates a difference in pressure between the blood removal side circuit and the blood return side circuit by rotating a blood pump in the case of the closed state. The apparatus then determines whether the blood circuit is the closed circuit by switching to the open state and monitoring the difference in pressure from detecting pressure inside the blood circuit. The apparatus drains liquid remaining in the blood circuit to a predetermined drainage destination with the blood circuit forming the closed circuit.

Apparatus and methods are described including a left-ventricular assist device that includes a pump-outlet tube shaped to define one or more laterally-facing blood-outlet openings and including a first section and a second section that overlap one another between the laterally-facing blood-outlet openings. The pump-outlet tube is configured for insertion, through an aorta of a subject, into a left ventricle of a heart of the subject such that the pump-outlet tube traverses an aortic valve of the subject with the lateral blood-outlet openings being disposed within the aorta. An impeller is disposed within the first section of the pump-outlet tube and is configured to pump blood of the subject, through the laterally-facing blood-outlet openings, from the left ventricle into the aorta. Other applications are also described.

Apparatus and methods are described including a left-ventricular assist device that includes a pump-outlet tube shaped to define one or more laterally-facing blood-outlet openings and including a first section and a second section that overlap one another between the laterally-facing blood-outlet openings. The pump-outlet tube is configured for insertion, through an aorta of a subject, into a left ventricle of a heart of the subject such that the pump-outlet tube traverses an aortic valve of the subject with the lateral blood-outlet openings being disposed within the aorta. An impeller is disposed within the first section of the pump-outlet tube and is configured to pump blood of the subject, through the laterally-facing blood-outlet openings, from the left ventricle into the aorta. Other applications are also described.

The invention relates to an intravascular blood pump. The blood pump comprises a pump section and a flow cannula. A proximal end portion of the flow cannula is connected to the pump section such that blood can enter the blood flow inlet, and a distal end portion of the flow cannula includes at least one blood flow-through opening for blood to enter the flow cannula. The distal end portion comprises an enlarged diameter portion, with at least a major portion of the blood flow-through opening being disposed in the enlarged diameter portion. The blood pump further comprises a sleeve overlapping the enlarged diameter portion. The sleeve has a structure that prevents its distal end from bending radially inwards into the blood flow-through openings.

A pump for a fluid which can be blood has a stator housing and a rotor hub with leading and trailing portions and an intermediate portion disposed therebetween. At least one impeller blade at the leading portion drives circumferential and axial components of a flow into a pump annulus or intermediate pathway portion. At least one stator blade extends radially inward from the stator housing within the intermediate pathway portion and is configured to reduce a circumferential component of the flow.

An extracorporeal circulation management device pumps blood in synchronization with heartbeats of a patient based on measurements of blood flow. Maximum and minimum blood flow measurement samples are compared with upper and lower threshold values to identify candidate timing for a systolic phase and diastolic phase of the heartbeat. During pulsatile pumping of the blood using the candidate timing, differences in the pulsatile flow measurements are determined. Based on the size of the difference, a final correction may be made to identification of the systolic and diastolic phases, and the corrected phase information is used to start and stop the motor unit.

Apparatus and methods are provided, including a left-ventricular assist device that includes an impeller configured for insertion into a subject's left ventricle. A delivery tube passes through the subject's aorta, from outside the subject into the left ventricle. The delivery tube includes an outer layer that varies along a length of the delivery tube such that a flexural rigidity of the delivery tube at a first portion of the delivery tube, which is configured to traverse the aortic valve, is less than the flexural rigidity at a second portion, which is configured to traverse at least a portion of the aortic arch, and the flexural rigidity at the second portion is less than the flexural rigidity at a third portion, which is configured to traverse the descending aorta. Other applications are also described.

Apparatus and methods are provided, including a left-ventricular assist device that includes an impeller configured for insertion into a subject's left ventricle. A delivery tube passes through the subject's aorta, from outside the subject into the left ventricle. The delivery tube includes an outer layer that varies along a length of the delivery tube such that a flexural rigidity of the delivery tube at a first portion of the delivery tube, which is configured to traverse the aortic valve, is less than the flexural rigidity at a second portion, which is configured to traverse at least a portion of the aortic arch, and the flexural rigidity at the second portion is less than the flexural rigidity at a third portion, which is configured to traverse the descending aorta. 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 left ventricle of a subject, and an impeller coupled to the axial shaft such that, as the axial shaft rotates, the impeller pumps blood from the left ventricle. A frame surrounds the impeller and a tip portion is coupled to a distal end of the frame. The tip portion includes a distal curved portion, which, when deployed within the left ventricle, lies in a plane, and a proximal curved portion, which, when deployed within the left ventricle, does not lie in the plane and is curved such that, following the insertion of the axial shaft into the left ventricle via an aorta of the subject, a distal end of the proximal curved portion points toward an apex of the left ventricle. Other applications are also described.