Apparatus and methods are described for use with a tributary vessel of a subject that supplies a vein of the subject. Blood within the tributary vessel is mechanically isolated into a compartment that is separated from blood within the vein. Blood flow from the tributary vessel to the vein is controlled by pumping blood from the compartment to the vein. Other applications are also described.

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 material is coupled to the at least one helical elongate element, such that the at least one helical elongate element with the material coupled thereto defines a blade of the impeller. A plurality of sutures are tied around the at least one helical elongate element, the sutures being configured to facilitate coupling of the material to the at least one helical elongate element. Other applications are also described.

Systems methods are disclosed for changing one or more characteristics (e.g. flow magnitude via pump speed) of mechanical circulatory assistance provided by an LVAD during specified points in the cardiac cycle, preferably using closed loop control. The system and method may be implemented for dynamically changing ventricular unloading during the cardiac cycle by adjusting the degree of ventricular assistance during systole and/or diastole. The system and methods also include a means to sense the phase of the cardiac cycle to inform the LVAD of timing within the cardiac cycle.

A catheter pump includes a catheter body having at least one lumen therethrough and comprising a distal end and a proximal end. An expandable impeller assembly includes an expandable impeller and an expandable cannula coupled to the distal end of the catheter body and housing the expandable impeller, the expandable cannula comprising a substantially straight segment having a distal inlet and a proximal outlet, the substantially straight segment configured to straddle an aortic valve. The catheter body comprises a proximal vessel contact zone and a distal vessel contact zone that are each proximal to the substantially straight segment, the proximal vessel contact zone and distal vessel contact zone configured to provide a force against an aortic arch to stabilize the expandable impeller assembly across the aortic valve.

A catheter pump includes a catheter body having at least one lumen therethrough and comprising a distal end and a proximal end. An expandable impeller assembly includes an expandable impeller and an expandable cannula coupled to the distal end of the catheter body and housing the expandable impeller, the expandable cannula comprising a substantially straight segment having a distal inlet and a proximal outlet, the substantially straight segment configured to straddle an aortic valve. The catheter body comprises a proximal vessel contact zone and a distal vessel contact zone that are each proximal to the substantially straight segment, the proximal vessel contact zone and distal vessel contact zone configured to provide a force against an aortic arch to stabilize the expandable impeller assembly across the aortic valve.

A method may be provided for the operation of a pump device, which comprises at least one pump as well as a suction element which is connected to the at least one pump and which has a suction opening positioned in a cavity of a body of a patient that sucks a fluid by way of producing a reduced pressure in the suction element, wherein an acceleration is measured and monitored during the operation of the pump device, wherein the reduced pressure in the suction element is reduced at least for a limited reaction time period, given the occurrence of an acceleration variable which lies above a fixed threshold valve. A correspondingly configured pump device may be provided.

Systems, apparatuses, and methods are disclosed for optimizing management of one or more implanted artificial heart pumps. An example method includes wirelessly retrieving, via one or more portable diagnostic devices, data regarding the one or more implanted artificial heart pumps. The example method further includes analyzing, by a server device, performance characteristics of the one or more implanted artificial heart pumps based on the retrieved data. The example method further includes causing rendering of the performance characteristics. Corresponding apparatuses and computer program products are contemplated.

Systems and methods relating to manufacturing and assembling a cardiac support system. The method may include a step of providing a sensor device and an inlet tube. The inlet tube may be adapted to aspirate a body fluid of a patient and may include a drive unit for operating the cardiac support system. The method may further include a step of connecting the sensor device to a first end of the inlet tube and the drive unit to a second end of the inlet tube.

Apparatus and methods are described including an impeller configured, in a radially-expanded configuration thereof, to pump a fluid by rotating. A radially expandable cage is disposed around the impeller, such that, in radially-expanded configurations of the impeller and the cage, the impeller is separated from an inner surface of the cage. The impeller is disposed within the cage such that, in response to the cage becoming radially contracted and axially elongated, the impeller radially contracts and axially elongates. Other applications are also described.

Apparatus and methods are described including an impeller configured, in a radially-expanded configuration thereof, to pump a fluid by rotating. A radially expandable cage is disposed around the impeller, such that, in radially-expanded configurations of the impeller and the cage, the impeller is separated from an inner surface of the cage. The impeller is disposed within the cage such that, in response to the cage becoming radially contracted and axially elongated, the impeller radially contracts and axially elongates. Other applications are also described.