A rotor for a pump has a housing and a rotor, and has at least one blade. The rotor is able to be actuated to rotate about an axis of rotation in order to convey a fluid in the axial or radial direction, and the rotor is able to be deformed in the radial direction between a first, radially compressed state and a second, radially expanded state. At a maximum speed of rotation of the rotor at which the power of the pump is at a maximum, the blade is essentially radially oriented, and/or the rotor has its maximum diameter.

A rotor for a pump has a housing and a rotor, and has at least one blade. The rotor is able to be actuated to rotate about an axis of rotation in order to convey a fluid in the axial or radial direction, and the rotor is able to be deformed in the radial direction between a first, radially compressed state and a second, radially expanded state. At a maximum speed of rotation of the rotor at which the power of the pump is at a maximum, the blade is essentially radially oriented, and/or the rotor has its maximum diameter.

Apparatus and methods are described for manufacturing a housing for an impeller of a blood pump. A mandrel is placed inside an inner lining, with a central cylindrical portion of a frame disposed around the inner lining, the mandrel being shorter than a length of the inner lining. A portion of an elongate tube is placed around at least a portion of the frame. The inner lining, the frame and the portion of the elongate tube are heated, via the mandrel, and, while heating the inner lining, the frame, and the portion of the elongate tube, pressure is applied from outside the portion of the elongate tube, such as to cause the portion of the elongate tube to become coupled to the frame. Other applications are also described.

A system for inserting a collapsible blood pump into a patient. In some embodiments, the system includes an introducer, the introducer comprising an introducer hub and an introducer sheath extending distally from the introducer hub, the introducer sheath comprising an introducer sheath lumen, the introducer hub comprising a hub connector and a distal hub lumen surrounding a proximal end of the introducer shaft; and a transfer tool comprising a transfer sheath, the transfer sheath comprising a transfer sheath lumen having a diameter substantially equal to a diameter of the introducer sheath lumen and a transfer tool connector adapted to connect to the hub connector, a distal portion of the transfer sheath extending into the distal hub lumen when the transfer tool connector is connected to the hub connector.

A catheter pump having a rotor shaft rotatably arranged in the inner catheter for driving an expandable conveyor element provided at the pump head. The conveyor element is rotatably mounted between a. distal hearing point and a proximal bearing point, wherein the outer catheter has a sleeve section on the distal end thereof surrounding the proximal bearing point, and wherein the proximal bearing point can be moved in the axial direction relative to the sleeve section in order to expand the conveyor element, wherein the proximal bearing point comprises a bearing receiver having a rotational bearing point for a rotary head rotationally fixed to the distal end of the rotor shaft, and a force application point at an axial distance to same for a force application section provided at the distal end of the inner catheter for axially moving the proximal bearing points relative to the sleeve section.

A catheter pump having a rotor shaft rotatably arranged in the inner catheter for driving an expandable conveyor element provided at the pump head. The conveyor element is rotatably mounted between a. distal hearing point and a proximal bearing point, wherein the outer catheter has a sleeve section on the distal end thereof surrounding the proximal bearing point, and wherein the proximal bearing point can be moved in the axial direction relative to the sleeve section in order to expand the conveyor element, wherein the proximal bearing point comprises a bearing receiver having a rotational bearing point for a rotary head rotationally fixed to the distal end of the rotor shaft, and a force application point at an axial distance to same for a force application section provided at the distal end of the inner catheter for axially moving the proximal bearing points relative to the sleeve section.

A ventricle unloading device intended to be implanted inside a patient's blood vessel portion through which a blood flow circulates. The device includes: a stator, a rotor arranged around the stator, the rotor having a driving impeller and a impeller engine, the impeller being an unducted impeller aimed at rotating freely within the blood vessel portion, and a static anchoring element displaying a circular part which is configured to extend around the impeller. The circular part of the static anchoring element defines a circulation area intended to contain the entire blood flow circulating through the blood vessel portion, the activation of the rotor is a pulsatile activation, and the activation is synchronized with the patient's heart contraction.

The present application describes various features for a catheter pump that prevents or inhibits unwanted fluids from entering a cavity or opening of a catheter pump. If unwanted fluids enter a cavity or opening of the catheter pump, the examples described herein cause the unwanted fluid to be expelled from the catheter pump.

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.

A catheter system includes a catheter including an elongate body having an expandable medical device coupled with a distal end thereof, and an introducer sheath assembly disposed over a proximal section of the catheter. The introducer sheath assembly includes an introducer sheath disposed over the catheter to form a gap therebetween, and a tubular plug. The introducer sheath includes an elongate body extending from a proximal end to a distal end and defining a lumen therein. The tubular plug extends through the lumen and includes an elongate body extending from a proximal end to a distal end that protrudes from the introducer sheath distal end. The plug is disposed between the catheter and the introducer sheath to occlude the gap. The plug is releasably fixed relative to the introducer sheath such that the plug is removable from the lumen to allow the expandable medical device to pass therethrough.