The invention includes three flushing channels each having a flushing channel longitudinal axis oriented parallel to the rotary shaft, which are distributed evenly around a rotary shaft with each flushing channels including a flushing channel cross-section oriented orthogonally to the rotary shaft. The cross-sections are each kidney-shaped and surround the rotary shaft in sectors.

The invention includes three flushing channels each having a flushing channel longitudinal axis oriented parallel to the rotary shaft, which are distributed evenly around a rotary shaft with each flushing channels including a flushing channel cross-section oriented orthogonally to the rotary shaft. The cross-sections are each kidney-shaped and surround the rotary shaft in sectors.

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.

A system for assisting a circulation of blood inside a body of a patient includes a pump including: a housing having an upstream portion and a downstream portion; an inducer positioned in the upstream portion of the housing, the inducer including one or more helically-wound inducer blades to rotate around a longitudinal axis of the pump; an impeller positioned downstream of the inducer in the housing, the impeller including one or more impeller blades to rotate around the longitudinal axis of the pump; and a diffuser positioned in the downstream portion of the housing, to direct blood through at least one aperture in a circumference of the housing.

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.

An integrated flow source is a limiting factor in numerous microfluidic applications. In addition to precise gradients and controlling molecular transports, a built-in source of stable and accurate flow can enable novel shear stress modulations for long-term cell culturing studies. The Tesla turbine, when used as a pump on the microfluidic regime, produces stable and accurate fluid gradients by utilizing laminar flow between its rotating discs Utilizing a stereolithography based 3D printer, a tesla pump (Ø10 cm) and associated housing capable of driving a microfluidic gradient is provided having a printed rotor surface topology of the pump in order to enhance pumping of biological fluids like blood at elevated viscosities. The surface topology is tuned via 3D pixilation, and this modulation completely recovered the pressure loss between pumping water at 1 cP versus glycerol solution at 3 cP. As a result, increased fluid viscosities, and even Non-Newtonian viscosities, can be used.

The invention relates to a fluid pump comprising at least one impeller blade (1, 1′, 1″) which is rotatable about an axis of rotation (3) and conveys a fluid in operation and comprising a support device (4, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 12, 12′, 13, 13′, 14, 14′, 15, 17) which supports the at least one impeller blade (1, 1′, 1″) in at least one support region, wherein the support device is change-able between a first state in which the rotor is radially compressed and a second state in which the rotor is radially expanded; and wherein at least one impeller blade extends at least partly radially inwardly with respect to the axis of rotation (3) from the support region/support regions in the radially expanded state of the rotor.

Mammalian body implantable fluid flow influencing device, comprising a modular impeller having: An impeller hub module dimensioned and shaped to be deliverable to a delivery site within a conduit of a conduit system of the mammalian body via a catheter. An impeller vane module having at least a portion of an impeller vane; having, with respect to the impeller hub module, an assembled configuration in which the impeller vane module mates with the impeller hub module, and an unassembled configuration, in which the impeller vane module is unmated with the impeller hub module and being dimensioned and shaped to be deliverable to the delivery site via the catheter when in the unassembled configuration. The modular impeller being formed when the impeller vane module is retained in its assembled configuration, and dimensioned and shaped to be operable within at least one conduit of the conduit system. Method of implantation disclosed.

Mammalian body implantable fluid flow influencing device, comprising a modular impeller having: An impeller hub module dimensioned and shaped to be deliverable to a delivery site within a conduit of a conduit system of the mammalian body via a catheter. An impeller vane module having at least a portion of an impeller vane; having, with respect to the impeller hub module, an assembled configuration in which the impeller vane module mates with the impeller hub module, and an unassembled configuration, in which the impeller vane module is unmated with the impeller hub module and being dimensioned and shaped to be deliverable to the delivery site via the catheter when in the unassembled configuration. The modular impeller being formed when the impeller vane module is retained in its assembled configuration, and dimensioned and shaped to be operable within at least one conduit of the conduit system. Method of implantation disclosed.