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.

A blood pump includes an impeller; a drive shaft coupled to the impeller and configured to rotate with the impeller; a motor configured to drive the impeller; and a bearing assembly disposed adjacent the motor and configured to receive an end of the drive shaft. The bearing assembly includes a bearing, where the end of the drive shaft is at least partially rounded, and the where the bearing includes a concave depression defined in a first side of the bearing, where the depression is configured to receive the end of the drive shaft. The bearing assembly may include a lubricant chamber configured to hold a lubricant.

This invention is directed to a corrosion-resistant permanent magnet, to a method for producing a corrosion-resistant permanent magnet, and to an intravascular blood pump comprising the magnet. The magnet is surrounded by a composite coating, the composite coating comprising, in the order recited, a first metal oxide layer, a metal layer, a second metal oxide layer, a linker layer, and a layer formed from poly(2-chloro-p-xylylene). In an alternative embodiment, a further metal layer and, optionally, a further metal oxide layer may be provided between the second metal oxide layer and the linker layer. In a further alternative embodiment, the metal layer may be omitted, and a further layer structure comprising at least one metal oxide layer, a linker layer, and a layer formed from poly(2-chloro-p-xylylene) may be provided instead.

An intravascular blood pump having a rotatable shaft carrying an impeller and a housing with an opening through which the shaft extends with the impeller positioned outside the housing. The shaft and the housing have surfaces forming a circumferential gap which converges towards the impeller-side end of the gap and which has a minimum gap width of preferably no more than 5 μm, more preferably no more than 2 μm.

An intravascular blood pump having a rotatable shaft carrying an impeller and a housing with an opening through which the shaft extends with the impeller positioned outside the housing. The shaft and the housing have surfaces forming a circumferential gap which converges towards the impeller-side end of the gap and which has a minimum gap width of preferably no more than 5 μm, more preferably no more than 2 μm.

Methods of using an intracardiac blood pump in association with medical procedures. In some cases, patients may be turned down for a medical procedure based on a risk that the procedure itself may cause the patient to experience a cardiac event during and/or following the procedure. In some examples, an intracardiac blood pump may be used to support the heart before, during, and/or after the medical procedure so as to minimize such risks, and thus enable the patient to receive critical treatment that might otherwise be denied.

Methods of using an intracardiac blood pump in association with medical procedures. In some cases, patients may be turned down for a medical procedure based on a risk that the procedure itself may cause the patient to experience a cardiac event during and/or following the procedure. In some examples, an intracardiac blood pump may be used to support the heart before, during, and/or after the medical procedure so as to minimize such risks, and thus enable the patient to receive critical treatment that might otherwise be denied.

A catheter pump is disclosed. The catheter pump can include an impeller and a catheter body having a lumen in which waste fluid flows proximally therethrough during operation of the catheter pump. The catheter pump can also include a drive shaft disposed inside the catheter body. A motor assembly can include a chamber. The motor assembly can include a rotor disposed in the at least a portion of the chamber, the rotor mechanically coupled with a proximal portion of the drive shaft such that rotation of the rotor causes the drive shaft to rotate, the rotor including a longitudinal rotor lumen therethrough. The motor assembly can also comprise a stator assembly disposed about the rotor. During operation of the catheter pump, the waste fluid flows from the lumen into the chamber such that at least a portion of the waste fluid flows proximally through the longitudinal rotor lumen.

A catheter pump is disclosed. The catheter pump can include an impeller and a catheter body having a lumen in which waste fluid flows proximally therethrough during operation of the catheter pump. The catheter pump can also include a drive shaft disposed inside the catheter body. A motor assembly can include a chamber. The motor assembly can include a rotor disposed in the at least a portion of the chamber, the rotor mechanically coupled with a proximal portion of the drive shaft such that rotation of the rotor causes the drive shaft to rotate, the rotor including a longitudinal rotor lumen therethrough. The motor assembly can also comprise a stator assembly disposed about the rotor. During operation of the catheter pump, the waste fluid flows from the lumen into the chamber such that at least a portion of the waste fluid flows proximally through the longitudinal rotor lumen.