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.

Apparatus and methods are described for manufacturing a housing for an impeller of a blood pump. A mandrel is placed inside an inner lining, with a central cylindrical portion of a frame disposed around the inner lining, the mandrel being shorter than a length of the inner lining. A portion of an elongate tube is placed around at least a portion of the frame. The inner lining, the frame and the portion of the elongate tube are heated, via the mandrel, and, while heating the inner lining, the frame, and the portion of the elongate tube, pressure is applied from outside the portion of the elongate tube, such as to cause the portion of the elongate tube to become coupled to the frame. Other applications are also described.

A coupling for a circulatory assist device includes a first coupler and a second coupler. The first coupler including a first inner portion configured to be secured to a first shaft, a first body extending from the inner portion, and first magnets joined to the body. The second coupler offset from and separate from the first coupler with a gap therebetween. The second coupler including a second inner portion configured to be secured to a second shaft, a second body extending from the second inner portion, and second magnets joined to the body. The second magnets magnetically coupled to the first magnets and configured to transfer a torque applied to one of the first shaft and the second shaft to an other of the first shaft and the second shaft.

A coupling for a circulatory assist device includes a first coupler and a second coupler. The first coupler including a first inner portion configured to be secured to a first shaft, a first body extending from the inner portion, and first magnets joined to the body. The second coupler offset from and separate from the first coupler with a gap therebetween. The second coupler including a second inner portion configured to be secured to a second shaft, a second body extending from the second inner portion, and second magnets joined to the body. The second magnets magnetically coupled to the first magnets and configured to transfer a torque applied to one of the first shaft and the second shaft to an other of the first shaft and the second shaft.

Apparatus and methods are described including a ventricular assist device that includes an impeller disposed within a frame and configured to pump blood through a pump-outlet tube and out of one of more blood outlet openings. The frame includes an inner lining. A protective braid is disposed over a distal portion of the frame and configured to block structures from the subject's left ventricle from entering into the frame. A proximal end of the protective braid is embedded between the pump-outlet tube and the inner lining, such that, during crimping of the frame, the braid becomes crimped with the pump-outlet tube and the inner lining, thereby preventing the braid from moving with respect to pump-outlet tube or the inner lining. Other applications are also described.

Apparatus and methods are described including a ventricular assist device that includes an impeller disposed within a frame and configured to pump blood through a pump-outlet tube and out of one of more blood outlet openings. The frame includes an inner lining. A protective braid is disposed over a distal portion of the frame and configured to block structures from the subject's left ventricle from entering into the frame. A proximal end of the protective braid is embedded between the pump-outlet tube and the inner lining, such that, during crimping of the frame, the braid becomes crimped with the pump-outlet tube and the inner lining, thereby preventing the braid from moving with respect to pump-outlet tube or the inner lining. Other applications are also described.

A heart pump assembly having a blood inlet configured to increase blood flow into the heart pump assembly is disclosed herein. The heart pump assembly includes a motor housing, a cannula connected to the motor housing, and a blood inlet connected to the cannula. The blood inlet has a distal body portion, a proximal body portion defining an inlet conduit therewithin, and a plurality of cage openings defined and positioned between the distal and proximal body portions. The inlet conduit has one of a tapered portion, a frustrum-shaped portion, or both a tapered portion and a frustrum-shaped portion and is adapted to reduce flow turbulence at the blood inlet and increase the blood flow into the heart pump.

An inflow cannula for an implantable blood pump, the inflow cannula defining an inlet at a proximal end, an opposite distal end, and a lumen therebetween, the inflow cannula being configured to constrict the lumen.

An inflow cannula for an implantable blood pump, the inflow cannula defining an inlet at a proximal end, an opposite distal end, and a lumen therebetween, the inflow cannula being configured to constrict the lumen.

An intravascular heart pump assembly can include a rotor with at least one impeller blade, and a cannula. The present application describes various cannulas that can be manufactured from multiple layers of material to improve flexibility, manufacturability, and durability without increasing an outer diameter of the cannula. In one embodiment, the cannula includes an inflow section having a sheet formed of a shape memory material embedded within a polymer and having at least one lateral hole or aperture in the inflow section. The at least one lateral hole is defined by a first hole in the sheet and a second hole in the outer polymer layer of the cannula. The first hole and the second hole overlap so that blood can enter the cannula through the holes.