A partially deformable impeller has at least two blades, wherein a periphery of each blade is deformable, the periphery being an outermost 5 to 20 percent of a width of the blade. In some embodiments, a catheter blood pump incorporates the partially deformable impeller.

A partially deformable impeller has at least two blades, wherein a periphery of each blade is deformable, the periphery being an outermost 5 to 20 percent of a width of the blade. In some embodiments, a catheter blood pump incorporates the partially deformable impeller.

A device to reduce left ventricle afterload in a target blood vessel in a mammal includes a cushion configured for positioning within a lumen of the target blood vessel and receipt of a fluid and configured to contract during systole and expand during diastole, a reservoir having a cavity for receiving the fluid, and a conduit extending between and fluidically coupling the cushion and the reservoir, whereby during use fluid in the cushion is transferred to the reservoir during systole and returned to the cushion during diastole. The cushion has an annular cross section defining a central lumen for blood flow and is configured for positioning in the lumen of the target vessel abutting an inner wall of the target vessel, whereby during use blood flow is directed through the central lumen of the cushion.

A device to reduce left ventricle afterload in a target blood vessel in a mammal includes a cushion configured for positioning within a lumen of the target blood vessel and receipt of a fluid and configured to contract during systole and expand during diastole, a reservoir having a cavity for receiving the fluid, and a conduit extending between and fluidically coupling the cushion and the reservoir, whereby during use fluid in the cushion is transferred to the reservoir during systole and returned to the cushion during diastole. The cushion has an annular cross section defining a central lumen for blood flow and is configured for positioning in the lumen of the target vessel abutting an inner wall of the target vessel, whereby during use blood flow is directed through the central lumen of the cushion.

A system or device for isolating pulmonary pressure from left atrial pressure and/or improving cardiac output. The device may be an implantable cardiac device comprising an intravascular shield. The system may comprise an intravascular shield and a trans-septal delivery sheath. The intravascular shield can be sized and configured to be positioned in a pulmonary vein or a left atrium to restrict fluid flow from the left atrium through one or more pulmonary veins to the lungs while allowing fluid flow from the lungs through the one or more pulmonary veins to the left atrium. The trans-septal delivery sheath can be configured to contain the intravascular shield in a collapsed configuration and deliver the intravascular shield to the left atrium.

A medical device including an artificial contractile structure which may be advantageously used to assist the functioning of a hollow organ. Specifically, the medical device includes an artificial contractile structure with at least one contractile element adapted to contract an organ, in such way that the contractile element is in a resting or in an activated position, at least one actuator designed to activate the contractile structure, and at least one source of energy for powering the actuator. The medical device also includes a means for reducing corrosion of the medical device hence reducing the risk of the device dysfunction and patient contamination.

A blood pump comprises a pump casing having a blood flow inlet and a blood flow outlet, and an impeller arranged in said pump casing so as to be rotatable about an axis of rotation. The impeller has blades sized and shaped for conveying blood from the blood flow inlet to the blood flow outlet. The blood pump also has an outflow cannula having an upstream end portion, a downstream end portion and an intermediate portion extending between the upstream end portion and the downstream end portion. The upstream end portion of the outflow cannula is connected to the pump casing such that blood is conveyed from the blood flow outlet of the pump casing into and through the intermediate portion of the outflow cannula towards the downstream end portion of the outflow cannula, wherein the downstream end portion has a blood flow outlet through which blood can exit the outflow cannula. At least a portion of the intermediate portion of the outflow cannula has an outer diameter that is larger than an outer diameter of the pump casing.

A blood pump comprises a pump casing having a blood flow inlet and a blood flow outlet, and an impeller arranged in said pump casing so as to be rotatable about an axis of rotation. The impeller has blades sized and shaped for conveying blood from the blood flow inlet to the blood flow outlet. The blood pump also has an outflow cannula having an upstream end portion, a downstream end portion and an intermediate portion extending between the upstream end portion and the downstream end portion. The upstream end portion of the outflow cannula is connected to the pump casing such that blood is conveyed from the blood flow outlet of the pump casing into and through the intermediate portion of the outflow cannula towards the downstream end portion of the outflow cannula, wherein the downstream end portion has a blood flow outlet through which blood can exit the outflow cannula. At least a portion of the intermediate portion of the outflow cannula has an outer diameter that is larger than an outer diameter of the pump casing.

Some embodiments of the disclosure are directed to a novel system for pumping liquid such as blood without damaging cells. In some embodiments, the system includes one or more inflatable elements such as balloons which force liquid from an implanted pump. In some embodiments, one or more elements are configured to directionally inflate. In some embodiments, the directional inflation enables pumping in a bidirectional manner. In some embodiments, the system includes a plurality of elements that inflate sequentially to pump liquid in one direction or another. In some embodiments, the one or more elements are coupled to a tube or stent.

Some embodiments of the disclosure are directed to a novel system for pumping liquid such as blood without damaging cells. In some embodiments, the system includes one or more inflatable elements such as balloons which force liquid from an implanted pump. In some embodiments, one or more elements are configured to directionally inflate. In some embodiments, the directional inflation enables pumping in a bidirectional manner. In some embodiments, the system includes a plurality of elements that inflate sequentially to pump liquid in one direction or another. In some embodiments, the one or more elements are coupled to a tube or stent.