Apparatus and methods are described including a blood pump that includes a pump-outlet tube shaped to define one or more blood-outlet openings and configured for insertion into a heart of a subject. An impeller is disposed within a distal portion of the pump-outlet tube and is configured to pump blood of the subject proximally through the pump-outlet tube, such that the blood exits the pump-outlet tube through the blood-outlet openings. A delivery tube extends, from outside a body of the subject, through the pump-outlet tube to the distal portion. A drive cable passes through the delivery tube and is configured to rotate the impeller. A proximal portion of the pump-outlet tube includes multiple strips adhered to the delivery tube. Other embodiments are also described.

Apparatus and methods are described including a blood pump that includes a pump-outlet tube shaped to define one or more blood-outlet openings and configured for insertion into a heart of a subject. An impeller is disposed within a distal portion of the pump-outlet tube and is configured to pump blood of the subject proximally through the pump-outlet tube, such that the blood exits the pump-outlet tube through the blood-outlet openings. A delivery tube extends, from outside a body of the subject, through the pump-outlet tube to the distal portion. A drive cable passes through the delivery tube and is configured to rotate the impeller. A proximal portion of the pump-outlet tube includes multiple strips adhered to the delivery tube. Other embodiments are also described.

Catheter blood pumps that include an expandable blood conduit and at least one impeller. Tension members extending from the blood conduit are associated with increasing a stiffness of an impeller region housing the impeller, thereby increasing the impeller region's resistance to deflection, and maintaining clearance for the impeller. In some cases, a tension control element is used to control a degree of tension placed on the tension members. The tension control element may be used to increase or decrease the stiffness of the impeller region and/or modulate the size of a blood inlet or outlet of the blood conduit.

Catheter blood pumps that include an expandable blood conduit and at least one impeller. Tension members extending from the blood conduit are associated with increasing a stiffness of an impeller region housing the impeller, thereby increasing the impeller region's resistance to deflection, and maintaining clearance for the impeller. In some cases, a tension control element is used to control a degree of tension placed on the tension members. The tension control element may be used to increase or decrease the stiffness of the impeller region and/or modulate the size of a blood inlet or outlet of the blood conduit.

A method for synchronizing operation of a heart assist pump device to a patient's cardiac cycle includes obtaining a signal from a motor of a heart assist pump device and filtering the signal to remove noise. The method also includes determining a speed synchronization start point at which time the motor of the heart assist pump device will begin a change in speed of operation based on the filtered signal. The method further includes modulating a speed of the motor of the heart assist pump device to a target speed at the speed synchronization start point, thereby synchronizing the change in speed of operation with a patient's cardiac cycle.

A method for synchronizing operation of a heart assist pump device to a patient's cardiac cycle includes obtaining a signal from a motor of a heart assist pump device and filtering the signal to remove noise. The method also includes determining a speed synchronization start point at which time the motor of the heart assist pump device will begin a change in speed of operation based on the filtered signal. The method further includes modulating a speed of the motor of the heart assist pump device to a target speed at the speed synchronization start point, thereby synchronizing the change in speed of operation with a patient's cardiac cycle.

The invention relates to a flexible shaft arrangement having a flexible hollow shaft (1, 2) which has an, end at the drive side and an end at the output side, wherein the hollow shaft is reinforced sectionally between these ends by a core (3, 4) extending in its interior. Stiffer and more flexible sections can hereby be selectively positioned within the shaft arrangement.

Apparatus and methods are described including a blood pump that includes an axial shaft configured for insertion into, and rotation within, a subject's body. The blood pump also includes an impeller, which includes a proximal bushing disposed over the axial shaft, a distal bushing disposed over the axial shaft distally from the proximal bushing, and one or more blades. Each of the blades includes a single inner helical elongate element, a single outer helical elongate element, and a film of material extending between the inner helical elongate element and the outer helical elongate element. The blades are proximally coupled to the proximal bushing and distally coupled to the distal bushing such that, as the axial shaft rotates, the blades rotate, thereby pumping blood of the subject. Other applications are also described.

Fluid pressure or flow in a human body may be adjusted with circulation or perfusion systems and methods. The system may include a first pump implantable in a chamber or vessel of the human body, and a plurality of struts connected to a housing of said first pump, wherein the struts secure the first pump in a desired location of the chamber or vessel. The system may also include one or more flow modification elements disposed on the first pump, where the flow modification elements direct flow to a desired organ or a desired vessel to adjust pressure or flow as desired.

A left-ventricular assist device (LVAD) has a generally ellipsoidal capsule fitted into a patient's ventricle, formed of a cage or frame of shape-memory wire which can be twisted open and shut to expand and collapse a thin membrane, to inflate with the incoming blood during diastole and to contract and squeeze out the blood during systole. A catheter extends from outside the patient's body through a major blood vessel and the patient's aortal valve into the left ventricle. The catheter has an external sheath, an outer tubular shaft onto which proximal ends of the shape-retaining wires are affixed, and a middle shaft extending through the hollow core of the outer shaft and which is affixed to a central shaft of the capsule. A control console has mechanical geared drives coupled to the outer and middle catheter shafts within the catheter. A sensor arrangement synchs action of the LVAD with systole and diastole of the patient's heart.