A system includes a dialyzer having a blood side and a dialysate side, a first extracorporeal circuit including one or more first fluid connectors structurally configured to connect the blood side of the dialyzer to the vascular system of a kidney patient, and a second extracorporeal circuit including one or more second fluid connectors structurally configured to connect the dialysate side of the dialyzer to the vascular system of a healthy animal. The present teachings may thus include a system where hemodialysis is performed using a healthy animal (e.g., a person with normal kidney function) to help remove harmful solutes from, and provide helpful solutes to, a kidney patient. In this manner, the healthy animal is “virtually donating” its kidney function to the kidney patient.

Catheter blood pumps that include a collapsible blood conduit, a collapsible scaffold portion, and a taper formed in the collapsible scaffold. The collapsible blood conduit defines a blood lumen. The collapsible scaffold is adapted to provide radial support to the blood conduit. The blood pump also includes one or more impellers. In some embodiments, the one or more impellers can also include a taper. The taper of the blood conduit can match the taper of the one or more impellers.

Catheter blood pumps that include a collapsible blood conduit, a collapsible scaffold portion, and a taper formed in the collapsible scaffold. The collapsible blood conduit defines a blood lumen. The collapsible scaffold is adapted to provide radial support to the blood conduit. The blood pump also includes one or more impellers. In some embodiments, the one or more impellers can also include a taper. The taper of the blood conduit can match the taper of the one or more impellers.

A method, apparatus and computer system product for improving cardiac output from the heart is presented. A balloon is placed within a chamber of a heart wherein the balloon encloses a mechanical expansion device and air. During a first time epoch in which the heart chamber is volumetrically contracting (during emptying), a mechanical expansion device causes the balloon to increase in size, which improves ejection fraction. During a second time epoch in which the heart chamber is volumetrically expanding (during filling), the mechanical expansion device causes the balloon to decrease in size, which improves filling.

A 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.

The approach presented here concerns a pump for delivering a fluid. The pump comprises an impeller, a drive device with a shaft, a shaft housing and a sealing device. The impeller is shaped to deliver the fluid. The drive device with the shaft is designed to drive the impeller. The shaft housing is shaped to receive the shaft and/or the drive device. The sealing device comprises at least one casing sealing element and/or an impeller sealing element which is received between the drive device and the impeller and which is designed to prevent fluid from entering the drive device and/or the shaft casing during operation of the pump.

The approach presented here concerns a pump for delivering a fluid. The pump comprises an impeller, a drive device with a shaft, a shaft housing and a sealing device. The impeller is shaped to deliver the fluid. The drive device with the shaft is designed to drive the impeller. The shaft housing is shaped to receive the shaft and/or the drive device. The sealing device comprises at least one casing sealing element and/or an impeller sealing element which is received between the drive device and the impeller and which is designed to prevent fluid from entering the drive device and/or the shaft casing during operation of the pump.

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 cannula supporting a percutaneous pump can include a proximal section with a first flexural modulus. The cannula can include one or more distal sections with a flexural modulus that is different than the first flexural modulus. The material and its arrangement along the length of the cannula can be selected so as to influence bending properties. This can, for example, allow efficient positioning of the cannula in a desired location without displacing the guidewire.

The present invention discloses a flexible shaft structure insulating wear particles by perfusion, which includes a flexible transmission shaft, a proximal holder is provided at one end of the flexible transmission shaft, a distal holder is provided at the other end of the flexible transmission shaft, a constraint insulator and an outer sheath tube are provided outside the flexible transmission shaft, and the constraint insulator sequentially includes an inner constraint layer, an insulation layer and an outer constraint layer from inside to outside; a perfusion inflow annular cavity is formed between the outer constraint layer and the outer sheath tube and between the outer constraint layer and the insulation layer, respectively, and a static sealed inner cavity is formed between the inner constraint layer and the insulation layer and between the inner constraint layer and the flexible transmission shaft, respectively; the proximal holder is provided with a perfusion inlet pipeline communicated with the perfusion inflow annular cavity and a perfusion exhaust pipeline communicated with the static sealed inner cavity; and the distal holder is provided with a perfusion insulation cavity. According to the present invention, the generated wear particles can be effectively insulated, the stability and consistency of perfusion flow of the product are improved, and the problems of vibration and noise of the flexible shaft under high-speed rotation are solved.