A fluid pump device changeable in diameter is provided. The device has a pump housing which is changeable in diameter and with a rotor which is changeable in diameter. The device has at least one delivery element for fluid, as well as a drive shaft on which the rotor is rotatably mounted. A bearing arrangement is arranged on the drive shaft or its extension, at the distal end of the drive shaft behind the rotor seen from the proximal end of the drive shaft. The bearing arrangement has struts, which elastically brace between a hub of the bearing arrangement and the pump housing.

Apparatus and methods are described including an impeller that includes an impeller frame that comprises proximal and distal end portions and at least one helical elongate element that winds from the proximal end portion to the distal end portion. A film of material is coupled to the at least one helical elongate element, such that the helical elongate element with the film of material coupled thereto defines a blade of the impeller. The film of material is shaped to define a hollow central lumen therethrough. Other applications are also described.

In a pump housing having an interior for accommodating a pump rotor, which may be transferred from a radially compressed state into a radially expanded state, and comprises a housing skin revolving in circumferential direction, as well as at least one reinforcement element, a stretch-resistant element revolving in circumferential direction is provided, which is stretched less than 5% in the expanded state as opposed to the force-free state in circumferential direction, and which limits any further expansion of the pump housing in radial direction.

In a pump housing having an interior for accommodating a pump rotor, which may be transferred from a radially compressed state into a radially expanded state, and comprises a housing skin revolving in circumferential direction, as well as at least one reinforcement element, a stretch-resistant element revolving in circumferential direction is provided, which is stretched less than 5% in the expanded state as opposed to the force-free state in circumferential direction, and which limits any further expansion of the pump housing in radial direction.

Apparatus and methods are described including manufacturing an impeller by coupling a material to a helical elongate element, such that the helical elongate element with the material coupled thereto defines a blade of the impeller. A portion of a structure that includes the helical elongate element is dipped into the material while the material is in a liquid state. The material is dried, while the material is being supported by the at least one helical elongate element. During the drying of material, the structure is rotated about its longitudinal axis, such as to facilitate the formation of a film of the material having a substantially uniform thickness within the impeller blade. Other applications are also described.

A extracorporeal system for lung assist includes a housing, a blood flow inlet in fluid connection with the housing; a blood flow outlet in fluid connection with the housing; a plurality of hollow gas permeable fibers adapted to permit diffusion of gas between blood and an interior of the hollow gas permeable fibers, the plurality of hollow gas permeable fibers being positioned between the blood flow inlet and the blood flow outlet such that blood flows around the plurality of hollow gas permeable fibers when flowing from the blood flow inlet to the blood flow outlet; a gas inlet in fluid connection with the housing and in fluid connection with inlets of the plurality of hollow gas permeable fibers; a gas outlet in fluid connection with the housing and in fluid connection with outlets of the plurality of hollow gas permeable fibers; and at least one moving element to create velocity fields in blood flow contacting the plurality of hollow gas permeable fibers. The plurality of hollow gas permeable fibers may extend generally perpendicular to the direction of bulk flow of blood through the housing.

A fluid pump is provided for delivering a fluid, particularly blood, comprising: a housing with a fluid inlet and a fluid outlet and a rotor, which is mounted in the housing such that it can rotate about an axis of rotation in order to deliver the fluid from the fluid inlet to the fluid outlet, the rotor being mounted in the housing by means of a mechanical bearing. A flow cross-section between the rotor and the housing has a local or partial flow cross-section minimum in the direction of the axis of rotation in the region of the mechanical bearing.

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.

Apparatus and methods are described including a tube configured to traverse a subject's aortic valve. A frame is disposed within a portion of the tube, and a plurality of winged projections are coupled to the frame. An impeller is disposed inside the tube, the impeller including at least one helical elongate element, and a film of material supported at least partially by the helical elongate element. The impeller is rotated, such as to pump blood from the subject's left ventricle to the subject's aorta. Blood flow that is generated by the rotation of the impeller is rectified, by using the winged projections to direct blood flow toward a direction of the longitudinal axis of the tube. Other applications are also described.

Disclosed are systems, devices, and methods that employ a pump to assist or support blood flow. An apparatus for pumping blood may include a pump housing having an outer wall disposed about a longitudinal pump axis, and having an upstream end and a downstream end; a blood flow straightener having a plurality of fins and positioned in the upstream end of the pump housing and secured to the pump housing by the plurality of fins; a diffuser having a plurality of diffuser fins and positioned in the downstream end of the pump housing and secured to the pump housing by the plurality of diffuser fins; and an impeller positioned between the blood flow straightener and the diffuser, and including a plurality of impeller blades. The apparatus may further include a pump drive configured to impart a rotational motion to the impeller by applying a magnetic field.