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.

The present application describes various features for a catheter pump that prevents or inhibits unwanted fluids from entering a cavity or opening of a catheter pump. If unwanted fluids enter a cavity or opening of the catheter pump, the examples described herein cause the unwanted fluid to be expelled from the catheter pump.

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 blood pump comprises a pump casing having a blood flow inlet and a blood flow outlet connected by a passage, and an impeller arranged in said pump casing so as to be rotatable about an axis of rotation. The impeller is provided with blades sized and shaped for conveying blood along the passage from the blood flow inlet to the blood flow outlet, and is rotatably supported in the pump casing by a first bearing at a first axial end of the impeller and a second bearing axially spaced apart from the first bearing. The first bearing comprises a projection extending along the axis of rotation and connected to one of the impeller and the pump casing and a cavity in the other one of the impeller and the pump casing, the projection comprising an enlarged portion that engages the cavity such that the first bearing and the second bearing are arranged to bear axial forces in the same axial direction.

A blood pump comprises a pump casing having a blood flow inlet and a blood flow outlet connected by a passage, and an impeller arranged in said pump casing so as to be rotatable about an axis of rotation. The impeller is provided with blades sized and shaped for conveying blood along the passage from the blood flow inlet to the blood flow outlet, and is rotatably supported in the pump casing by a first bearing at a first axial end of the impeller and a second bearing axially spaced apart from the first bearing. The first bearing comprises a projection extending along the axis of rotation and connected to one of the impeller and the pump casing and a cavity in the other one of the impeller and the pump casing, the projection comprising an enlarged portion that engages the cavity such that the first bearing and the second bearing are arranged to bear axial forces in the same axial direction.

A blood pump is described that includes an impeller having proximal and distal bushings, at least one helical elongate element, a spring that is disposed inside of the helical elongate element and along an axis around which the helical elongate element winds, and a film of material supported between the helical elongate element and the spring. A frame is disposed around the impeller. A flexible elongate element extends radially from the spring to the helical elongate element, and maintains the helical elongate element within a given distance from the spring, to thereby maintain a gap between an outer edge of a blade of the impeller and an inner surface of the frame, during rotation of the impeller. Other applications are also described.

A blood pump is described that includes an impeller having proximal and distal bushings, at least one helical elongate element, a spring that is disposed inside of the helical elongate element and along an axis around which the helical elongate element winds, and a film of material supported between the helical elongate element and the spring. A frame is disposed around the impeller. A flexible elongate element extends radially from the spring to the helical elongate element, and maintains the helical elongate element within a given distance from the spring, to thereby maintain a gap between an outer edge of a blade of the impeller and an inner surface of the frame, during rotation of the impeller. Other applications are also described.

Transcatheterly implantable mammalian body conduit intralumenal device and lumen wall anchor assembly. Anchor includes: wire network, connector positioning wires having a secured and a released position, and a connector disposed at end of each wire. Anchor has: a compact-secured-configuration, an expanded-secured-configuration, an expanded-released-configuration. When the anchor is in the expanded-secured-configuration, the wire network exerts a force on conduit lumen wall and the connector positioning wires are the in secured position. When the anchor is in the expanded-released-configuration, the connector positioning wires are in the released position, and do not obstruct fluid flow axially through conduit. Device includes an interconnector that allows for the releasable interconnector of the connectors thereto. Device and anchor assembly can be explanted from the conduit. Or, device can be released from the anchor at the implantation site and only the device explanted with the anchor remaining within the conduit.

Systems and methods for deriving pressures outside of a blood inlets and blood outlets of an intracardiac blood pump assembly, and pressure differentials therebetween. Pressures outside of a blood inlet may be derived based on one or more readings from a pressure sensor placed within a blood inlet, one or more readings from a differential pressure sensor configured to measure pressure differential across a wall of the pump housing or cannula, and speed of the pump motor. Pressure differentials between a blood inlet and blood outlet may be derived based on one or more readings from the differential pressure sensor and speed of the pump motor. Pressures outside of a blood outlet may be derived based on a derived pressure outside of a blood inlet and a derived pressure differential between the blood inlet and the blood outlet.

Systems and methods for deriving pressures outside of a blood inlets and blood outlets of an intracardiac blood pump assembly, and pressure differentials therebetween. Pressures outside of a blood inlet may be derived based on one or more readings from a pressure sensor placed within a blood inlet, one or more readings from a differential pressure sensor configured to measure pressure differential across a wall of the pump housing or cannula, and speed of the pump motor. Pressure differentials between a blood inlet and blood outlet may be derived based on one or more readings from the differential pressure sensor and speed of the pump motor. Pressures outside of a blood outlet may be derived based on a derived pressure outside of a blood inlet and a derived pressure differential between the blood inlet and the blood outlet.