A percutaneous trans-valvular blood pump system including a pump subsystem, catheter, and sheath is described. The pump subsystem includes a plurality of impeller pump assemblies arranged in tandem within a cannula portion of the catheter. The impeller pump assemblies are configured to operate in parallel so that blood pumped through one pump does not enter another pump.

An implantable blood pump including an impeller, at least a portion of the impeller being composed of a metal alloy that is a solid at normal body temperature and is configured to phase change to a liquid between a predetermined temperature above normal body temperature and about 40 degrees Celsius.

Apparatus and methods for driving a circulatory assist device with motive power from a fluid motor. In one example a parallel plate Tesla-type of motor extracts power from the circulatory system of a biological unit to drive a non-positive displacement pump and increase blood pressure in the biological unit.

Mammalian body implantable fluid flow influencing device for influencing flow of a first fluid within a first bodily conduit via a flow of a second fluid within a second bodily conduit, comprising a first and a second working end. Each end has a vaned rotor and an anchor for anchoring that end within a bodily conduit. Each end having a delivery configuration for percutaneous transcatheter endovascular delivery to an implantation site within a bodily conduit. A driveshaft assembly operatively interconnects the second end rotor with the first end rotor to transmit rotational movement of the second rotor to the first rotor. When the device is implanted within the body, the second vaned rotor acts as a turbine and extracts kinetic energy from the second fluid, and the first vaned rotor acts an impeller and imparts kinetic energy to the first fluid. The device is motorless.

Aspects of the present technology relate to compressible and expandable pumps. In one aspect, a pump is provided including a pump housing that is expandable and compressible and a rotor that is expandable and compressible and disposed in the pump housing. The rotor includes at least one rotor blade, a hub, and an axis of rotation. At least a portion of the at least one rotor blade extends from the hub along a first axis that is offset a predetermined distance from a radial axis of the rotor that traverses the axis of rotation. The pump further includes a drive shaft having a proximal end and a distal end, wherein the hub of the rotor is mounted to the distal end of the drive shaft and the drive shaft is rotated to rotate the rotor.

Apparatus and methods are described including a ventricular assist device configured to assist ventricular functioning of a subject. The ventricular assist device includes an impeller and a frame disposed around the impeller. An axial shaft extends from a proximal end of the frame to a distal end of the frame, the impeller being coupled to the axial shaft. The axial shaft includes a proximal portion and a distal portion, which are coupled to each other via a joint. The proximal portion and the distal portion of the axial shaft are configured to flex with respect to each other via the joint. Other applications are also described.

Apparatus and methods are described including a ventricular assist device that includes a blood pump configured to be placed inside a left ventricle of a subject and to pump blood from the subject's left ventricle to an aorta of the subject. A blood pressure sensor measures aortic pressure of the subject. A computer processor varies a flow rate that is that is generated by the blood pump, and determines a relationship between arterial pulsatility of the subject and the flow rate that is generated by the blood pump, based upon aortic pressure that is measured by the blood pressure sensor as the flow rate that is generated by the blood pump is varied. The computer processor estimates native cardiac output of the subject at least partially based upon the relationship. Other applications are also described.

Apparatus and methods are described, including a catheter (20) configured to be placed inside a blood vessel of a subject. A first impeller (28) is disposed on the catheter, and a second impeller (28) is disposed on the catheter, proximally to the first impeller. A support structure (160) is disposed upon the catheter such that a longitudinal center of the support structure is disposed between the first and second impellers, the support structure being configured to support an inner wall of the blood vessel in an open configuration in a region between the first and second impellers. Other applications are also described.

An intravascular fluid movement device that includes an expandable member having a collapsed, delivery configuration and an expanded, deployed configuration, the expandable member having a proximal end and a distal end, a rotatable member disposed radially and axially within the expandable member, and a conduit coupled to the expandable member, the conduit at least partially defining a blood flow lumen between a distal end of the conduit and a proximal end of the conduit, the conduit disposed solely radially inside of the expandable member in a distal section of the expandable member.

Devices for moving blood within a patient, and methods of doing so. The devices can include a pump portion that includes an impeller and a housing around the impeller, as well as a fluid lumen. The impeller can be activated to cause rotation of the impeller and thereby move fluid within the fluid lumen.