Abstract: An impeller includes a hub, and a plurality of blades supported by the hub, the blades being arranged in at least two blade rows. The impeller has a deployed configuration in which the blades extend away from the hub, and a stored configuration in which at least one of the blades is radially compressed, for example by folding the blade towards the hub. The impeller may also have an operational configuration in which at least some of the blades are deformed from the deployed configuration upon rotation of the impeller when in the deployed configuration. The outer edge of one or more blades may have a winglet, and the base of the blades may have an associated indentation to facilitate folding of the blades.

Abstract: An impeller includes a hub and at least one 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 pumping blood within a patient. A blood pump 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's body.

Abstract: A blood pump includes an impeller having a plurality of foldable blades and a cannula having a proximal portion with a fixed diameter, and a distal portion with an expandable diameter. The impeller can reside in the expandable portion of the cannula. The cannula has a collapsed condition for percutaneous delivery to a desired location within the body, and an expanded condition in which the impeller can rotate to pump blood. A flexible drive shaft can extend through the cannula for rotationally driving the impeller within the patient's body.

Abstract: An impeller includes a hub and at least one 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 pumping blood within a patient. A blood pump 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's body.

Abstract: An impeller includes a hub, and a plurality of blades supported by the hub, the blades being arranged in at least two blade rows. The impeller has a deployed configuration in which the blades extend away from the hub, and a stored configuration in which at least one of the blades is radially compressed, for example by folding the blade towards the hub. The impeller may also have an operational configuration in which at least some of the blades are deformed from the deployed configuration upon rotation of the impeller when in the deployed configuration. The outer edge of one or more blades may have a winglet, and the base of the blades may have an associated indentation to facilitate folding of the blades.

Abstract: An impeller according to an example of the present invention comprises a hub, and at least one blade supported by the hub. The impeller has a deployed configuration in which the blade extends away from the hub, and a stored configuration in which the impeller is radially compressed, for example by folding the blade towards the hub. The impeller may comprise a plurality of blades, arranged in blade rows, to facilitate radial compression of the blades. The outer edge of a blade may have a winglet, and the base of the blade may have an associated indentation to facilitate folding of the blade.

Abstract: The present invention relates to propulsion and hydraulic systems having a co-axial design wherein the inlet section, impeller section, and outlet section of a mixed flow pump system all have a common centerline axis or axis of rotation. The mixed flow pump system includes an outer casing and a central body disposed co-axially within the outer casing. A pump impeller is rotatably connected to the central body for imparting hydraulic energy to the fluid flowing through the mixed flow pump system. The mixed flow pump system may also include inlet flow conditioning vanes for conditioning an inlet flow of fluid to the mixed flow impeller for improving the cavitation performance and/or acoustic performance of the pump module. Stator vanes are provided for connecting the central body to the outer casing and to remove any swirl velocity from the fluid flow exiting the mixed flow pump impeller.

Abstract: The present invention relates to propulsion and hydraulic systems having a co-axial design wherein the inlet section, impeller section, and outlet section of a mixed flow pump system all have a common centerline axis or axis of rotation. The mixed flow pump system includes an outer casing and a central body disposed co-axially within the outer casing. A pump impeller is rotatably connected to the central body for imparting hydraulic energy to the fluid flowing through the mixed flow pump system. The mixed flow pump system may also include inlet flow conditioning vanes for conditioning an inlet flow of fluid to the mixed flow impeller for improving the cavitation performance and/or acoustic performance of the pump module. Stator vanes are provided for connecting the central body to the outer casing and to remove any swirl velocity from the fluid flow exiting the mixed flow pump impeller.

Abstract: An underwater or submersible vehicle including an elongated body having a substantially ellipsoidal forward section, a substantially cylindrical mid-section, and a tapered aft section having an internal vectored thrust propulsion system for propelling and maneuvering the vehicle through a fluid operating environment. At least two discharge nozzles are located along a horizontal beam on opposite sides of a longitudinal centerline in the aft section for providing differential and/or vectored thrust for propelling and maneuvering the vehicle through the fluid operating environment. The vehicle can also includes at least two backing nozzles capable of one or more of differential and vectored thrust for providing a backing and/or athwartships thrust to slow, stop, reverse, and maneuver the vehicle. The vehicle can also includes secondary thrust-driven propulsion system located in the forward section for providing a secondary differential and/or vectored thrust.

Abstract: An underwater or submersible vehicle including an elongated body having a substantially ellipsoidal forward section, a substantially cylindrical mid-section, and a tapered aft section having an internal vectored thrust propulsion system for propelling and maneuvering the vehicle through a fluid operating environment. At least two discharge nozzles are located along a horizontal beam on opposite sides of a longitudinal centerline in the aft section for providing differential and/or vectored thrust for propelling and maneuvering the vehicle through the fluid operating environment. The vehicle can also includes at least two backing nozzles capable of one or more of differential and vectored thrust for providing a backing and/or athwartships thrust to slow, stop, reverse, and maneuver the vehicle. The vehicle can also includes secondary thrust-driven propulsion system located in the forward section for providing a secondary differential and/or vectored thrust.