To provide a simple embodiment of a rotor for a fluid pump which is nevertheless very flexible in handling and compressible, in accordance with the invention a conveying blade is provided having at least two struts and a membrane spanned between them in the expanded state, wherein the struts each have at least one joint, in particular more than one joint, which enables an angling in a first direction in a first movement plane and bounds an overelongation beyond an elongation angle of in particular 180° in the opposite second direction. In particular when a plurality of joints are provided at the struts, they, and with them the conveying blades, are particularly flexible for simple compressibility.

A method of operating a counterpulsation device (CPD) in a human or animal subject is disclosed, the method including: receiving a heart beat signal indicative of the heart beat of the subject; providing counterpulsation therapy by controlling the pressure supplied to a CPD drive line in pneumatic communication with the CPD to cause the CPD to alternately fill with blood and eject blood with a timing that is determined at least in part based on the heart beat signal; while providing counterpulsation therapy, receiving a CPD drive line pressure signal indicative of the pressure in the CPD drive line; and adjusting the pressure supplied to the drive line based at least in part on the drive line pressure signal.

A method of operating a counterpulsation device (CPD) in a human or animal subject is disclosed, the method including: receiving a heart beat signal indicative of the heart beat of the subject; providing counterpulsation therapy by controlling the pressure supplied to a CPD drive line in pneumatic communication with the CPD to cause the CPD to alternately fill with blood and eject blood with a timing that is determined at least in part based on the heart beat signal; while providing counterpulsation therapy, receiving a CPD drive line pressure signal indicative of the pressure in the CPD drive line; and adjusting the pressure supplied to the drive line based at least in part on the drive line pressure signal.

Apparatus and methods are described including a blood pump that includes at least one motor configured to be disposed outside a body of a subject, a catheter, a proximal impeller disposed on the catheter and configured to pump blood by rotating, and a distal impeller disposed on the catheter. The distal impeller is configured to pump blood by rotating and is disposed on the catheter distally to the proximal impeller such that longitudinal centers of the proximal and distal impellers are separated from each other by at least 3 cm. Other applications are also described.

Apparatus and methods are described including a blood pump that includes at least one motor configured to be disposed outside a body of a subject, a catheter, a proximal impeller disposed on the catheter and configured to pump blood by rotating, and a distal impeller disposed on the catheter. The distal impeller is configured to pump blood by rotating and is disposed on the catheter distally to the proximal impeller such that longitudinal centers of the proximal and distal impellers are separated from each other by at least 3 cm. Other applications are also described.

A heart pump assembly includes an elongate catheter with a proximal portion and a distal portion, a rotor at the distal portion of the elongate catheter, a driveshaft, and a bearing. The rotor can include an impeller blade shaped to induce fluid flow in a first axial direction. The drive shaft may be coupled to or integrally formed with a proximal end of the rotor and can include a pump element formed in a surface of the drive shaft. The bearing can include a bore into which the drive shaft extends. The pump element is shaped so as to induce fluid flow through the bore in a second axial direction which can be the same or opposite to the first axial direction.

A heart pump assembly includes an elongate catheter with a proximal portion and a distal portion, a rotor at the distal portion of the elongate catheter, a driveshaft, and a bearing. The rotor can include an impeller blade shaped to induce fluid flow in a first axial direction. The drive shaft may be coupled to or integrally formed with a proximal end of the rotor and can include a pump element formed in a surface of the drive shaft. The bearing can include a bore into which the drive shaft extends. The pump element is shaped so as to induce fluid flow through the bore in a second axial direction which can be the same or opposite to the first axial direction.

The systems and methods described herein determine metrics of cardiac or vascular performance, such as cardiac output, and can use the metrics to determine appropriate levels of mechanical circulatory support to be provided to the patient. The systems and methods described determine cardiac performance by determining aortic pressure measurements (or other physiologic measurements) within a single heartbeat or across multiple heartbeats and using such measurements in conjunction with flow estimations or flow measurements made during the single heartbeat or multiple heartbeats to determine the cardiac performance, including determining the cardiac output. By utilizing a mechanical circulatory support system placed within the vasculature, the need to place a separate measurement device within a patient is reduced or eliminated. The system and methods described herein may characterize cardiac performance without altering the operation of the heart pump (e.g., without increasing or decreasing pump speed).

The systems and methods described herein determine metrics of cardiac or vascular performance, such as cardiac output, and can use the metrics to determine appropriate levels of mechanical circulatory support to be provided to the patient. The systems and methods described determine cardiac performance by determining aortic pressure measurements (or other physiologic measurements) within a single heartbeat or across multiple heartbeats and using such measurements in conjunction with flow estimations or flow measurements made during the single heartbeat or multiple heartbeats to determine the cardiac performance, including determining the cardiac output. By utilizing a mechanical circulatory support system placed within the vasculature, the need to place a separate measurement device within a patient is reduced or eliminated. The system and methods described herein may characterize cardiac performance without altering the operation of the heart pump (e.g., without increasing or decreasing pump speed).

The invention relates to a rotor for a fluid pump, in particular for use in the medical sphere, the rotor being compressible for bringing to the place of use and thereafter being expandable. The compressibility is assisted by the provision of cavities, in particular also production of the rotor at least partially from a foam.