An intravascular blood pump comprises a catheter, a rotor, a housing in which the rotor is housed and a flexible drive shaft extending through the catheter and rotatably supported in a proximal bearing located proximally of the rotor. The proximal bearing comprises a bearing sleeve and an outer bearing ring. The bearing sleeve comprises a proximal portion located proximally of the outer bearing ring, the proximal portion of the bearing sleeve forming an axial bearing with a proximal surface of the outer bearing ring. The bearing sleeve further comprises a distal portion extending from the proximal portion of the bearing sleeve distally into the outer bearing ring, wherein the distal portion of the bearing sleeve forms a radial bearing with the outer bearing ring.

An intravascular blood pump comprises a catheter, a rotor, a housing in which the rotor is housed and a flexible drive shaft extending through the catheter and rotatably supported in a proximal bearing located proximally of the rotor. The proximal bearing comprises a bearing sleeve and an outer bearing ring. The bearing sleeve comprises a proximal portion located proximally of the outer bearing ring, the proximal portion of the bearing sleeve forming an axial bearing with a proximal surface of the outer bearing ring. The bearing sleeve further comprises a distal portion extending from the proximal portion of the bearing sleeve distally into the outer bearing ring, wherein the distal portion of the bearing sleeve forms a radial bearing with the outer bearing ring.

The circulation assist devices disclosed herein can be used, for example, in methods of decreasing venous pressure in the Fontan circulation. The devices can include an inlet, an outlet, a stator, a rotor, and an impeller driven by rotation of the rotor. In some embodiments, the impeller blade (or blades) can at least partially define a central lumen extending through the device. The device can be coupled to the inferior vena cava and the pulmonary artery. Rotating the impeller blade(s) increases blood velocity through the lumen and causes the outlet pressure to be higher than the inlet pressure. The impeller can be configured such that, when it is stationary, the forward static pressure drop between the inlet and the outlet is minimized. That is, the forward static pressure drop of the device approximates the pressure drop between the inferior vena cava and central pulmonary artery of the unassisted Fontan circulation.

The circulation assist devices disclosed herein can be used, for example, in methods of decreasing venous pressure in the Fontan circulation. The devices can include an inlet, an outlet, a stator, a rotor, and an impeller driven by rotation of the rotor. In some embodiments, the impeller blade (or blades) can at least partially define a central lumen extending through the device. The device can be coupled to the inferior vena cava and the pulmonary artery. Rotating the impeller blade(s) increases blood velocity through the lumen and causes the outlet pressure to be higher than the inlet pressure. The impeller can be configured such that, when it is stationary, the forward static pressure drop between the inlet and the outlet is minimized. That is, the forward static pressure drop of the device approximates the pressure drop between the inferior vena cava and central pulmonary artery of the unassisted Fontan circulation.

An impeller includes a hub and a blade supported by the hub. The impeller has a stored configuration in which the blade is compressed so that its distal end moves towards the hub, and a deployed configuration in which the blade extends away from the hub. The impeller may be part of a pump for pumping fluids, such as blood, and may include a cannula having a proximal portion with a fixed diameter, and a distal portion with an expandable diameter. The impeller may reside in the expandable portion of the cannula. The cannula may have a compressed diameter which allows it to be inserted percutaneously into a patient. Once at a desired location, the expandable portion of the cannula may be expanded and the impeller expanded to the deployed configuration. A flexible drive shaft may extend through the cannula for rotationally driving the impeller within the patient.

The invention relates to a fluid pump comprising at least one impeller blade (1, 1′, 1″) which is rotatable about an axis of rotation (3) and conveys a fluid in operation and comprising a support device (4, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 12, 12′, 13, 13′, 14, 14′, 15, 17) which supports the at least one impeller blade (1, 1′, 1″) in at least one support region, wherein the support device is changeable between a first state in which the rotor is radially compressed and a second state in which the rotor is radially expanded; and wherein at least one impeller blade extends at least partly radially inwardly with respect to the axis of rotation (3) from the support region/support regions in the radially expanded state of the rotor.

The invention relates to a rotor for a fluid pump, in particular for use in the medical sphere, the rotor being compressible for bringing to the place of use and thereafter being expandable. The compressibility is assisted by the provision of cavities, in particular also production of the rotor at least partially from a foam.

The invention relates to a rotor for a fluid pump, in particular for use in the medical sphere, the rotor being compressible for bringing to the place of use and thereafter being expandable. The compressibility is assisted by the provision of cavities, in particular also production of the rotor at least partially from a foam.

A minimally invasive system for a wireless circulatory support pump that utilizes a low profile catheter-based techniques and provides temporary and chronic circulatory support depending on the needs of the subject. The system includes a wireless circulatory assist pump, a deployment catheter, and a retrieval catheter for inserting and removing the wireless circulatory assist pump from a subject. The wireless circulatory support pump is relatively easy to place, has high flow rates, and provide improvements in the subject's renal function.

A minimally invasive system for a wireless circulatory support pump that utilizes a low profile catheter-based techniques and provides temporary and chronic circulatory support depending on the needs of the subject. The system includes a wireless circulatory assist pump, a deployment catheter, and a retrieval catheter for inserting and removing the wireless circulatory assist pump from a subject. The wireless circulatory support pump is relatively easy to place, has high flow rates, and provide improvements in the subject's renal function.