A blood flow assist system can include an impeller assembly including an impeller shaft and an impeller on the impeller shaft, a primary flow pathway disposed along an exterior surface of the impeller. The system can include a rotor assembly at a proximal portion of the impeller shaft. A secondary flow pathway can be disposed along a lumen of the impeller shaft. During operation of the blood flow assist system, blood can be pumped proximally along the primary flow pathway and the secondary flow pathway. The system can include a sleeve bearing distal the impeller. The system can include a drive unit having a distal end disposed distal a proximal end of the second impeller. The drive unit comprising a drive magnet and a drive bearing between the drive magnet and the impeller assembly.

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.

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.

A percutaneous circulatory support device includes a housing comprising an inlet and an outlet, an impeller disposed within the housing and being rotatable relative to the housing to cause blood to flow into the inlet, through the housing, and out of the outlet, a cannula coupled to the housing, the cannula extending between a proximal section and a distal section opposite the proximal section, and an expandable element configured for inflation and deflation, the expandable element having a length that is approximately equal to a length of a body of the cannula. The expandable element is configured for providing an increased stiffness to the cannula.

A blood pump comprises a pump casing having a blood flow inlet and a blood flow outlet connected by a passage, and an impeller rotatable about an axis of rotation. A surface of the impeller faces a surface of the pump casing spaced from said surface of the impeller by a clearance, the clearance being in fluid connection with the passage at a clearance transition point. At least one wash out channel extends through the impeller and is in fluid connection with the passage via a first opening and with the clearance via a second opening. The first opening of the wash out channel is arranged in an area of the impeller that is under a higher pressure than the clearance transition point so as to cause a blood flow from the first opening through the wash out channel and the clearance to the clearance transition point.

A tightening port for use with a hub of an introducer sheath includes a cartridge for reversible engagement with a proximal end of the hub, the cartridge having a proximal end and a distal end and a lumen extending therebetween, a seal positioned within the lumen of the cartridge, a lock nut having an inner portion positioned within the lumen of the cartridge and an outer portion configured for engagement with the proximal end of the cartridge, such that the inner portion of the lock nut is configured to push the seal to reduce a size of an opening of the seal.

A tightening port for use with a hemostasis valve of an introducer sheath includes a gripper configured for engagement with the hemostasis valve hub, the gripper having a proximal end, a distal end, a cylindrical body defining a lumen, and a plurality of protrusions extending from the proximal end, a base having a cylindrical body and a lumen defined therethrough for receiving a portion of the gripper, and a plurality of engagement features configured for engaging with the plurality of protrusions of the gripper, and wherein the lumen of the gripper has an initial diameter prior to engagement with the base, and the lumen of the gripper has a compressed diameter after engagement with the base, wherein the compressed diameter is less than the initial diameter.

Various aspects of the present disclosure are directed toward apparatuses, systems, and methods that may include a magnetic drive system of a blood pump. The magnetic drive system may include a drive shaft coupled to an impeller, a driven magnet assembly coupled to at least one of the drive shaft and the impeller, and a driving coil assembly configured to drive the driven magnet assembly.

An intravascular blood pump comprises a pump casing having a blood flow inlet and a blood flow outlet, and an impeller arranged in said pump casing so as to be rotatable about an axis of rotation, wherein the impeller has blades sized and shaped for conveying blood from the blood flow inlet to the blood flow outlet. The blood pump further comprises a drive unit for rotating the impeller, the drive unit comprising a plurality of posts arranged about the axis of rotation, wherein each of the posts includes a shaft portion and a head portion. Coil windings around the posts are sequentially controllable so as to create a rotating magnetic field. The drive unit further comprises a back plate which engages ends of the shaft portions of the posts opposite the head portions.

Mechanical circulatory supports configured to operate in series with the native heart are disclosed. In an embodiment, a centrifugal pump is used. In an embodiment, inlet and outlet ports are connected into the aorta and blood flow is diverted through a lumen and a centrifugal pump between the inlet and outlet ports. The supports may create a pressure rise between about 40-80 mmHg, and maintain a flow rate of about 5 L/min. The support may be configured to be inserted in a collinear manner with the descending aorta. The support may be optimized to replicate naturally occurring vortex formation within the aorta. Diffusers of different dimensions and configurations, such as helical configuration, and/or the orientation of installation may be used to optimize vortex formation. The support may use an impeller which is electromagnetically suspended, stabilized, and rotated to pump blood.