A catheter (20), which can be part of an intravascular blood pump, possesses a kink sensor which extends over the total length of the catheter and comprises an optical fiber (28A). The optical fiber is attached to an evaluation device (100) which evaluates a preset light quantity transmitted through the optical fiber as to whether a part of the light quantity is coupled out of the optical fiber along the length of the optical fiber. This is interpreted as a kink event and displayed. The optical fiber preferably utilized for the kink sensor is the optical fiber of an optical pressure sensor.

Apparatus and methods are described including manufacturing an impeller by forming a structure having first and second bushings at proximal and distal ends of the structure, the first and second bushings being connected to one another by at least one elongate element. The elongate element is caused to radially expand and form at least one helical elongate element, at least partially by axially compressing the structure. The helical elongate element is coated with a coupling agent configured to enhance bonding between the helical elongate element and an elastomeric layer. The coated helical elongate element is coated with the elastomeric layer. Subsequently, an elastomeric film is coupled to the helical elongate element, such that the helical elongate element with the elastomeric film coupled thereto defines a blade of the impeller. Other applications are also described.

A heart pump including: a housing forming a cavity including: at least one inlet aligned with an axis of the cavity; and, at least one outlet provided in a circumferential outer wall of the cavity; an impeller provided within the cavity, the impeller including vanes for urging fluid from the inlet to the outlet; and, a drive for rotating the impeller in the cavity and wherein a flow path through the pump has a minimal cross-sectional area of at least 50 mm.sup.2.

A blood pump assembly can include various components such as a housing and a sensor configured to detect one or more characteristics of the blood. In some embodiments, the sensor can be coupled to the housing and can include a sensor membrane configured to deflect in response to a change in a blood parameter (e.g., pressure). The blood pump assembly can include a shield that covers at least a portion of the sensor membrane so as to protect the sensor from damage when the blood pump assembly is inserted through an introducer and navigated through the patient's vasculature and/or when the blood pump assembly is inserted into the heart in a surgical procedure. One or more protective layers can be deposited over the sensor membrane to prevent the sensor membrane from being dissolved through interactions with the patient's blood.

A catheter (20), which can be part of an intravascular blood pump, possesses a kink sensor which extends over the total length of the catheter and comprises an optical fiber (28A). The optical fiber is attached to an evaluation device (100) which evaluates a preset light quantity transmitted through the optical fiber as to whether a part of the light quantity is coupled out of the optical fiber along the length of the optical fiber. This is interpreted as a kink event and displayed. The optical fiber preferably utilized for the kink sensor is the optical fiber of an optical pressure sensor.

The present invention generally relates to heart treatment systems. In some aspects, methods and systems are provided for facilitating communication between implanted devices. For example, an implantable cardiac rhythm management device may be configured to communicate with an implantable blood pump. The implantable cardiac rhythm management device may deliver heart stimulation rate information in addition to information associated with any detected abnormalities in heart function. In response, the pump may be configured to adjust pumping by the pump to better accommodate a patient's particular needs.

The invention relates to a motor housing module (110) for sealing a motor compartment of a motor of a heart support system. The motor housing module (110) has at least one feed-through portion (205), at least one feed-through line (210), and at least one contact pin (215). The feed-through portion (205) is designed to establish an electrical connection between the heart support system and a connection cable in order to externally contact the heart support system. The at least one feed-through line (210) is embedded in the feed-through portion (205) and extends through the feed-through portion (205). The feed-through line (210) can be connected to the motor and to the connection cable. A first end of the at least one contact pin (215) is embedded in the feed-through portion (205) and a second end of the contact pin (215) projects from the feed-through portion (205) on a side facing away from the motor compartment. The second end of the contact pin (215) can be connected to a sensor line to at least one sensor of the heart support system and to the connection cable.

The invention relates to a motor housing module (110) for sealing a motor compartment of a motor of a heart support system. The motor housing module (110) has at least one feed-through portion (205), at least one feed-through line (210), and at least one contact pin (215). The feed-through portion (205) is designed to establish an electrical connection between the heart support system and a connection cable in order to externally contact the heart support system. The at least one feed-through line (210) is embedded in the feed-through portion (205) and extends through the feed-through portion (205). The feed-through line (210) can be connected to the motor and to the connection cable. A first end of the at least one contact pin (215) is embedded in the feed-through portion (205) and a second end of the contact pin (215) projects from the feed-through portion (205) on a side facing away from the motor compartment. The second end of the contact pin (215) can be connected to a sensor line to at least one sensor of the heart support system and to the connection cable.

A blood pump including a housing having an inflow tube defining a major axis spanning through the inflow tube and a flow path spanning along the major axis, a rotor disposed within the inflow tube, the rotor and the inflow tube defining a gap therebetween, a stator surrounding the inflow tube and the rotor, and the housing defining an access conduit spanning through the inflow tube and the stator transverse to the major axis, the access conduit being in communication with the gap.

A centrifugal blood pump includes: a housing; a suction inlet for introducing blood into the housing; an impeller that is rotatably disposed in the housing and imparts a centrifugal flow to the blood introduced through the suction inlet by rotation; and a discharge outlet for discharging the blood given a centrifugal flow by the impeller. The impeller is formed in a double impeller structure including double vanes arranged vertically.