Disclosed are systems, devices, and methods that employ a pump to assist or support blood flow. An apparatus for pumping blood may include a pump housing having an outer wall disposed about a longitudinal pump axis, and having an upstream end and a downstream end; a blood flow straightener having a plurality of fins and positioned in the upstream end of the pump housing and secured to the pump housing by the plurality of fins; a diffuser having a plurality of diffuser fins and positioned in the downstream end of the pump housing and secured to the pump housing by the plurality of diffuser fins; and an impeller positioned between the blood flow straightener and the diffuser, and including a plurality of impeller blades. The apparatus may further include a pump drive configured to impart a rotational motion to the impeller by applying a magnetic field.

Disclosed are systems, devices, and methods that employ a pump to assist or support blood flow. An apparatus for pumping blood may include a pump housing having an outer wall disposed about a longitudinal pump axis, and having an upstream end and a downstream end; a blood flow straightener having a plurality of fins and positioned in the upstream end of the pump housing and secured to the pump housing by the plurality of fins; a diffuser having a plurality of diffuser fins and positioned in the downstream end of the pump housing and secured to the pump housing by the plurality of diffuser fins; and an impeller positioned between the blood flow straightener and the diffuser, and including a plurality of impeller blades. The apparatus may further include a pump drive configured to impart a rotational motion to the impeller by applying a magnetic field.

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 system for assisting a circulation of blood inside a body of a patient includes a pump including: a housing having an upstream portion and a downstream portion; an inducer positioned in the upstream portion of the housing, the inducer including one or more helically-wound inducer blades to rotate around a longitudinal axis of the pump; an impeller positioned downstream of the inducer in the housing, the impeller including one or more impeller blades to rotate around the longitudinal axis of the pump; and a diffuser positioned in the downstream portion of the housing, to direct blood through at least one aperture in a circumference of the housing.

A system for assisting a circulation of blood inside a body of a patient includes a pump including: a housing having an upstream portion and a downstream portion; an inducer positioned in the upstream portion of the housing, the inducer including one or more helically-wound inducer blades to rotate around a longitudinal axis of the pump; an impeller positioned downstream of the inducer in the housing, the impeller including one or more impeller blades to rotate around the longitudinal axis of the pump; and a diffuser positioned in the downstream portion of the housing, to direct blood through at least one aperture in a circumference of the housing.

An apparatus for a heart of a patient having a cardiac assist device adapted to be implanted into the patient to assist the heart with pumping blood. The apparatus has a sensor adapted to be implanted into the patient. The sensor in communication with the cardiac assist device and the heart which measures native volume of the heart. Alternatively, the sensor monitors the heart based on admittance while the cardiac assist device. Alternatively, the sensor monitors the heart based on impedance.

Disclosed are systems, devices, and methods that employ a pump to assist or support blood flow. An apparatus for pumping blood may include a pump housing having an outer wall disposed about a longitudinal pump axis, and having an upstream end and a downstream end; a blood flow straightener having a plurality of fins and positioned in the upstream end of the pump housing and secured to the pump housing by the plurality of fins; a diffuser having a plurality of diffuser fins and positioned in the downstream end of the pump housing and secured to the pump housing by the plurality of diffuser fins; and an impeller positioned between the blood flow straightener and the diffuser, and including a plurality of impeller blades. The apparatus may further include a pump drive configured to impart a rotational motion to the impeller by applying a magnetic field.

The approach presented here relates to a determination appliance (100) for determining a viscosity of a fluid. The determination appliance (100) has at least one determination device (110) and a provisioning device (115). The determination device (110) is designed to determine the viscosity of the fluid and/or a rotational speed (ω) of a blade wheel (205) for conveying the fluid by using at least one detected volume flow of the fluid and a detected pressure difference of the fluid. The provisioning device (115) is designed to provide or send a viscosity signal (130) representing the viscosity determined by the determination device (110).

The approach presented here relates to a determination appliance (100) for determining a viscosity of a fluid. The determination appliance (100) has at least one determination device (110) and a provisioning device (115). The determination device (110) is designed to determine the viscosity of the fluid and/or a rotational speed (ω) of a blade wheel (205) for conveying the fluid by using at least one detected volume flow of the fluid and a detected pressure difference of the fluid. The provisioning device (115) is designed to provide or send a viscosity signal (130) representing the viscosity determined by the determination device (110).