Mechanical circulatory supports configured to operate in series with the native heart are disclosed. In an embodiment, an intravascular propeller is installed into the descending aorta and anchored within via an expandable anchoring mechanism. The propeller and anchoring mechanism may be foldable so as to be percutaneously deliverable to the aorta. The propeller may have foldable blades. The blades may be magnetic and may be driven by a concentric electromagnetic stator circumferentially outside the magnetic blades. The stator may be intravascular or may be configured to be installed around the outer circumference of the blood vessel. The support may create a pressure rise between about 20-50 mmHg, and maintain a flow rate of about 5 L/min. The support may have one or more pairs of contra-rotating propellers to modulate the tangential velocity of the blood flow. The support may have static pre-swirlers and or de-swirlers. The support may be optimized to replicate naturally occurring vortex formation within the descending aorta.

A centrifugal pump with a rotating impeller and a rotating diffuser. The diffuser may be rotated with a controlled speed to broaden the operational range of the pump. Such control may be done independently of the rotational speed of the impeller to tailor pump operation to a particular NPSH, efficiency, fluid flow or related requirement. In one preferred form, the impeller and diffuser are made to counter-rotate relative to one another, while the independent rotational speed of each may be provided by one or more motors, as well as a variable-speed transmission coupled to such motor or motors. Such a pump is optimized for specific speed operating ranges beneath those associated with axial flow pump configurations.

A dual pump unit having a pair of pumps that provide parallel hydraulic paths, and are configured to operate concurrently in opposite rotational directions. The dual pump unit has a sealed casing which includes a suction flange, two volutes in hydraulically parallel configuration, and a discharge flange. The pair of pumps are located within a respective volute of the casing and, in an example, are radially inline and horizontally inline. The casing may include a flattened bottom. Each pump may include a touchscreen for configuration of the respective pump. The pumps are controllable to circulate a circulating medium to collectively provide output to source a load.

A dual pump unit having a pair of pumps that provide parallel hydraulic paths, and are configured to operate concurrently in opposite rotational directions. The dual pump unit has a sealed casing which includes a suction flange, two volutes in hydraulically parallel configuration, and a discharge flange. The pair of pumps are located within a respective volute of the casing and, in an example, are radially inline and horizontally inline. The casing may include a flattened bottom. Each pump may include a touchscreen for configuration of the respective pump. The pumps are controllable to circulate a circulating medium to collectively provide output to source a load.

A serial pump includes a pump body, a first impeller and a second impeller. A first rotor chamber, a second rotor chamber and a connecting channel are formed in the pump body. The first rotor chamber has a first outlet opening, the second rotor chamber has a second inlet opening, and the connecting channel is communicated between the first outlet opening and the second inlet opening. The first impeller is pivotally arranged in the first rotor chamber, and an outer periphery of the first impeller is arranged corresponding to the first outlet opening. The second impeller is pivotally arranged in the second rotor chamber, and a center of the second impeller is arranged corresponding to the second inlet opening. Accordingly, the first impeller and the second impeller are serially arranged.

A serial pump includes a pump body, a first impeller and a second impeller. A first rotor chamber, a second rotor chamber and a connecting channel are formed in the pump body. The first rotor chamber has a first outlet opening, the second rotor chamber has a second inlet opening, and the connecting channel is communicated between the first outlet opening and the second inlet opening. The first impeller is pivotally arranged in the first rotor chamber, and an outer periphery of the first impeller is arranged corresponding to the first outlet opening. The second impeller is pivotally arranged in the second rotor chamber, and a center of the second impeller is arranged corresponding to the second inlet opening. Accordingly, the first impeller and the second impeller are serially arranged.

Mechanical circulatory supports configured to operate in series with the native heart are disclosed. In an embodiment, an intravascular propeller is installed into the descending aorta and anchored within via an expandable anchoring mechanism. The propeller and anchoring mechanism may be foldable so as to be percutaneously deliverable to the aorta. The propeller may have foldable blades. The blades may be magnetic and may be driven by a concentric electromagnetic stator circumferentially outside the magnetic blades. The stator may be intravascular or may be configured to be installed around the outer circumference of the blood vessel. The support may create a pressure rise between about 20-50 mmHg, and maintain a flow rate of about 5 L/min. The support may have one or more pairs of contra-rotating propellers to modulate the tangential velocity of the blood flow. The support may have static pre-swirlers and or de-swirlers. The support may be optimized to replicate naturally occurring vortex formation within the descending aorta.

A serial pump includes a pump body, a first impeller and a second impeller. A first rotor chamber, a second rotor chamber and a connecting channel are formed in the pump body. The first rotor chamber has a first outlet opening, the second rotor chamber has a second inlet opening, and the connecting channel is communicated between the first outlet opening and the second inlet opening. The first impeller is pivotally arranged in the first rotor chamber, and an outer periphery of the first impeller is arranged corresponding to the first outlet opening. The second impeller is pivotally arranged in the second rotor chamber, and a center of the second impeller is arranged corresponding to the second inlet opening. Accordingly, the first impeller and the second impeller are serially arranged.

A centrifugal pump includes a selectable regenerative style pumping element, including a regenerative pump rotor and at least one side wall flow channel formed by a rotating disc. The regenerative pumping element is selectable between a first state in which the disc does not rotate with the impeller and a second state in which the disc rotates with the impeller.

A fluid transfer coupling comprises a first shaft assembly a second shaft assembly, and a seal assembly. The first shaft assembly comprises a first shaft and an annular fin attached to the first shaft, the annular fin having one or more internal passages extending therethrough. Each internal passage connects a centre portion of the first shaft to a radially outwardly facing side of the annular fin. The second shaft assembly comprises a second shaft and an annular trough extending radially outwardly of the second shaft.