Abstract: A catheter pump system is disclosed. The catheter pump system can include a shaft assembly and an impeller coupled with a distal portion of the shaft assembly. A motor assembly can impart rotation on the impeller through the shaft assembly, the motor assembly comprising a motor which rotates the shaft assembly. The catheter pump system can include a fluid pathway which conveys fluid proximally during operation of the catheter pump system. A seal can be disposed between the motor assembly and the impeller. The seal can be configured to impede or prevent the fluid from the fluid pathway from entering the motor assembly at least about an outer periphery of the shaft assembly. The seal can comprise an opening through which a portion of the shaft assembly extends.

Abstract: A catheter pump system is disclosed. The catheter pump system can include a shaft assembly and an impeller coupled with a distal portion of the shaft assembly. The catheter pump system can include a motor assembly, the motor assembly comprising a chamber and a shaft-driving portion disposed in the chamber. The shaft-driving portion can be configured to impart rotation to the impeller through the shaft assembly. The chamber can be filled with a gas that at least partially surrounds the shaft-driving portion. A fluid pathway can convey fluid proximally during operation of the catheter pump system. A bypass pathway can be in fluid communication with the fluid pathway, the bypass pathway configured to direct at least a portion of the fluid to bypass the chamber.

Abstract: A catheter pump is disclosed. The catheter pump can include an impeller and a catheter body having a lumen in which waste fluid flows proximally therethrough during operation of the catheter pump. The catheter pump can also include a drive shaft disposed inside the catheter body. A motor assembly can include a chamber. The motor assembly can include a rotor disposed in the at least a portion of the chamber, the rotor mechanically coupled with a proximal portion of the drive shaft such that rotation of the rotor causes the drive shaft to rotate, the rotor including a longitudinal rotor lumen therethrough. The motor assembly can also comprise a stator assembly disposed about the rotor. During operation of the catheter pump, the waste fluid flows from the lumen into the chamber such that at least a portion of the waste fluid flows proximally through the longitudinal rotor lumen.

Abstract: A catheter pump system is disclosed. The catheter pump system can include a shaft assembly and an impeller coupled with a distal portion of the shaft assembly. A motor assembly can impart rotation on the impeller through the shaft assembly, the motor assembly comprising a motor which rotates the shaft assembly. The catheter pump system can include a fluid pathway which conveys fluid proximally during operation of the catheter pump system. A seal can be disposed between the motor assembly and the impeller. The seal can be configured to impede or prevent the fluid from the fluid pathway from entering the motor assembly at least about an outer periphery of the shaft assembly. The seal can comprise an opening through which a portion of the shaft assembly extends.

Abstract: A catheter pump system is disclosed. The catheter pump system can include a shaft assembly and an impeller coupled with a distal portion of the shaft assembly. The catheter pump system can include a motor assembly, the motor assembly comprising a chamber and a shaft-driving portion disposed in the chamber. The shaft-driving portion can be configured to impart rotation to the impeller through the shaft assembly. The chamber can be filled with a gas that at least partially surrounds the shaft-driving portion. A fluid pathway can convey fluid proximally during operation of the catheter pump system. A bypass pathway can be in fluid communication with the fluid pathway, the bypass pathway configured to direct at least a portion of the fluid to bypass the chamber.

Abstract: A catheter pump is disclosed. The catheter pump can include an impeller and a catheter body having a lumen in which waste fluid flows proximally therethrough during operation of the catheter pump. The catheter pump can also include a drive shaft disposed inside the catheter body. A motor assembly can include a chamber. The motor assembly can include a rotor disposed in the at least a portion of the chamber, the rotor mechanically coupled with a proximal portion of the drive shaft such that rotation of the rotor causes the drive shaft to rotate, the rotor including a longitudinal rotor lumen therethrough. The motor assembly can also comprise a stator assembly disposed about the rotor. During operation of the catheter pump, the waste fluid flows from the lumen into the chamber such that at least a portion of the waste fluid flows proximally through the longitudinal rotor lumen.

Abstract: A method to prepare protein films from protein gels is disclosed which utilizes the process of osmosis to remove excess fluid from protein gels without destroying the structural integrity of the protein. The method is conducted by first preparing a protein gel in a solvent, then contacting the gel with one side of a semipermeable membrane permeable to the solvent in which the gel was prepared, next adding a concentrated polymer solution to the other side of the membrane which membrane is impermeable to the polymer so as to cause movement of solvent from the gel, through the membrane, and into the polymer solution, and thus removing solvent from the gel for a period of time sufficient to contract the gel to a desired thickness.