Sheath assembly for the insertion of a cord-shaped element, comprising an introducer sheath, and an auxiliary sheath for insertion into the introducer sheath together with the cord-shaped element. In some examples, the auxiliary sheath has a housing configured to detachably couple to the introducer sheath housing, and to detachably fasten the cord-shaped element with respect to the auxiliary sheath housing.

Sheath assembly for the insertion of a cord-shaped element, comprising an introducer sheath, and an auxiliary sheath for insertion into the introducer sheath together with the cord-shaped element. In some examples, the auxiliary sheath has a housing configured to detachably couple to the introducer sheath housing, and to detachably fasten the cord-shaped element with respect to the auxiliary sheath housing.

A system that includes a cannula and a flexible hypotube attached to the cannula configured to slidably receive an optical fiber. The system may be configured to have a ratio R1 of a diameter of the outer surface of the hypotube to a diameter of the inner surface of the cannula is 1:5>R1>1:25, and/or where the flexible hypotube comprises a tubular portion containing at least one cut extending from the outer surface at least partially through the sidewall of the flexible hypotube, each cut having a maximum width of between 0.01 and 0.1 mm.

A system that includes a cannula and a flexible hypotube attached to the cannula configured to slidably receive an optical fiber. The system may be configured to have a ratio R1 of a diameter of the outer surface of the hypotube to a diameter of the inner surface of the cannula is 1:5>R1>1:25, and/or where the flexible hypotube comprises a tubular portion containing at least one cut extending from the outer surface at least partially through the sidewall of the flexible hypotube, each cut having a maximum width of between 0.01 and 0.1 mm.

A catheter pump is provided that includes a rotatable impeller and an elongate cannula. The elongate cannula has a mesh that has a plurality of circumferential members disposed about the impeller. The elongate cannula has a plurality of axial connector extending between a proximal side of a distal circumferential member and a distal side of a proximal circumferential member. The circumferential members are radially self-expandable. The cannula is configured to minimize fracture within at least in the distal zone of the mesh as the elongated cannula moves into a sheathing device.

A catheter pump is provided that includes a rotatable impeller and an elongate cannula. The elongate cannula has a mesh that has a plurality of circumferential members disposed about the impeller. The elongate cannula has a plurality of axial connector extending between a proximal side of a distal circumferential member and a distal side of a proximal circumferential member. The circumferential members are radially self-expandable. The cannula is configured to minimize fracture within at least in the distal zone of the mesh as the elongated cannula moves into a sheathing device.

A catheter pump includes a cannula and an impeller system. The cannula has an inlet zone with a first maximum outer diameter, an outlet zone with a second maximum outer diameter and a blood flow channel extending between the inlet zone and the outlet zone. The first maximum outer diameter is greater than the second maximum outer diameter, and the impeller system has a rotatable impeller body operable to convey blood from the inlet zone to the outlet zone. The impeller body may be axially spaced from the cannula in a separated position.

A catheter pump includes a cannula and an impeller system. The cannula has an inlet zone with a first maximum outer diameter, an outlet zone with a second maximum outer diameter and a blood flow channel extending between the inlet zone and the outlet zone. The first maximum outer diameter is greater than the second maximum outer diameter, and the impeller system has a rotatable impeller body operable to convey blood from the inlet zone to the outlet zone. The impeller body may be axially spaced from the cannula in a separated position.

A catheter pump assembly is provided. The catheter pump assembly includes a proximal portion, a distal portion, a catheter body having a lumen extending along a longitudinal axis between the proximal and distal portions, an impeller disposed at the distal portion, and a stator disposed at a downstream location of the impeller to straighten flow downstream from the impeller. The stator is collapsible from a deployed configuration to a collapsed configuration.

In various embodiments, a catheter pump is disclosed herein. The catheter pump can include an elongated catheter body having a distal portion including an expandable cannula having an inlet and an outlet. The expandable cannula can have a delivery profile and an operational profile larger than the delivery profile. An impeller assembly can include an impeller shaft, and an impeller body can include one or more blades. The impeller blades can draw blood into the cannula when rotated. Further, an expandable support can have a mounting portion disposed on the impeller shaft distal of the impeller body and a cannula contact portion for reducing a change in tip gap due to bending of the cannula. The cannula contact portion can be disposed distal of the mounting portion.