A minimally invasive circulatory support platform that utilizes an aortic stent pump or pumps. The platform uses a low profile catheter-based techniques and provides temporary and chronic circulatory support depending on the needs of the patient. Further described is a wirelessly powered circulatory assist pump for providing chronic circulatory support to, for example, heart failure patients. The platform and system are relatively easy to place, have higher flow rates than existing systems, and provide improvements in the patient's renal function.

Apparatus and methods are described including a catheter, and first and second impellers configured to be inserted into a subject's body via the catheter, the first and second impellers being disposed in series with each other. A motor is configured to generate rotational motion. A rotation shaft extends from the motor to the first impeller and imparts the rotational motion from the motor to the first impeller. A gear mechanism disposed between the first and second impeller is configured to effect a change in rotational motion that is imparted from the first impeller to the second impeller, such that the second impeller rotates in a different manner from the first impeller. Other applications are also described.

Apparatus and methods are described including a catheter, and first and second impellers configured to be inserted into a subject's body via the catheter, the first and second impellers being disposed in series with each other. A motor is configured to generate rotational motion. A rotation shaft extends from the motor to the first impeller and imparts the rotational motion from the motor to the first impeller. A gear mechanism disposed between the first and second impeller is configured to effect a change in rotational motion that is imparted from the first impeller to the second impeller, such that the second impeller rotates in a different manner from the first impeller. Other applications are also described.

An intravascular blood pump (1) comprises a pump casing (2) having a blood flow inlet (21) and a blood flow outlet (22), and an impeller (3) arranged in said pump casing (2) so as to be rotatable about an axis of rotation, wherein the impeller (3) has blades (31) sized and shaped for conveying blood from the blood flow inlet (21) to the blood flow outlet (22). The blood pump (1) further comprises a drive unit (104) for rotating the impeller (3), the drive unit (104) comprising a plurality of posts (140) arranged about the axis of rotation (10). Coil windings (47) around the posts are sequentially controllable so as to create a rotating magnetic field. The shaft portion (141) of each of the posts (140) comprises a soft magnetic material which is discontinuous in cross-section transverse to the longitudinal axis of the respective post (140).

An intravascular blood pump (1) comprises a pump casing (2) having a blood flow inlet (21) and a blood flow outlet (22), and an impeller (3) arranged in said pump casing (2) so as to be rotatable about an axis of rotation, wherein the impeller (3) has blades (31) sized and shaped for conveying blood from the blood flow inlet (21) to the blood flow outlet (22). The blood pump (1) further comprises a drive unit (104) for rotating the impeller (3), the drive unit (104) comprising a plurality of posts (140) arranged about the axis of rotation (10). Coil windings (47) around the posts are sequentially controllable so as to create a rotating magnetic field. The shaft portion (141) of each of the posts (140) comprises a soft magnetic material which is discontinuous in cross-section transverse to the longitudinal axis of the respective post (140).

A minimally invasive circulatory support device, system, and related methods. The circulatory assist devices, systems, and methods use low profile catheter-based techniques and provide temporary and chronic circulatory support depending on the needs of the patient. The circulatory assist device, systems, and methods include a stent cage and an impeller. The stent cage is formed of a first material that is sufficiently rigid to expand radially outward and press against an artery wall is sufficiently deformable to collapse within the outer sheath. The impeller includes at least one blade formed of a second material that is sufficiently rigid to expand and retain shape while rotating and assisting blood to flow within the artery and is sufficiently deformable to collapse within the outer sheath with the stent cage.

System for assisting vascular fluid flow body comprising: Fluid pump having an inlet for fluid in the vascular system to enter and an outlet for discharging pumped fluid into the vascular system at a fluid pump outlet pressure. Occluder placed into the vascular system at a location downstream of the outlet of the fluid pump. Occluder having a configuration in which the occluder occludes the vascular system and a configuration in which pumped is capable of flowing past the occluder. In use, the occluder being actuatable to alternate between the occluded configuration, in which pumped fluid accumulates in the vascular system becoming increasingly under pressure via elastic deformation of vessels, and the flow configuration, in which accumulated pumped fluid under pressure flows past the occluder at a greater pressure than the fluid pump outlet pressure, returning the elastically deformed vessels towards their original state.

System for assisting vascular fluid flow body comprising: Fluid pump having an inlet for fluid in the vascular system to enter and an outlet for discharging pumped fluid into the vascular system at a fluid pump outlet pressure. Occluder placed into the vascular system at a location downstream of the outlet of the fluid pump. Occluder having a configuration in which the occluder occludes the vascular system and a configuration in which pumped is capable of flowing past the occluder. In use, the occluder being actuatable to alternate between the occluded configuration, in which pumped fluid accumulates in the vascular system becoming increasingly under pressure via elastic deformation of vessels, and the flow configuration, in which accumulated pumped fluid under pressure flows past the occluder at a greater pressure than the fluid pump outlet pressure, returning the elastically deformed vessels towards their original state.

A minimally invasive circulatory support platform that utilizes an aortic stent pump or pumps is described. The platform uses a low profile catheter-based techniques and provides temporary and chronic circulatory support depending on the needs of the patient. Also described is a catheter-based temporary assist pump to treat patients with acute decompensated heart failure and provide circulatory support to subjects undergoing high risk percutaneous coronary intervention. Further described is a wirelessly powered circulatory assist pump for providing chronic circulatory support for heart failure patients. The platform and system are relatively easy to place, have higher flow rates than existing systems, and provide improvements in the patient's renal function.

A minimally invasive circulatory support platform that utilizes an aortic stent pump or pumps is described. The platform uses a low profile catheter-based techniques and provides temporary and chronic circulatory support depending on the needs of the patient. Also described is a catheter-based temporary assist pump to treat patients with acute decompensated heart failure and provide circulatory support to subjects undergoing high risk percutaneous coronary intervention. Further described is a wirelessly powered circulatory assist pump for providing chronic circulatory support for heart failure patients. The platform and system are relatively easy to place, have higher flow rates than existing systems, and provide improvements in the patient's renal function.