Abstract: Apparatus and methods are described including a blood pump that includes a frame that includes a proximal portion, a central portion comprising multiple struts, and a distal portion. An impeller, which is configured to pump blood of a subject proximally, is disposed within the frame, and a pump-outlet tube is fixed over the proximal portion of the frame and at least part of the central portion of the frame. An inlet guard is distal to the impeller and includes a main body shaped to define one or more blood-inlet openings configured to allow passage of the blood therethrough. The inlet guard additionally includes multiple proximal flaps, which are coupled to the pump-outlet tube and are fixed at least partly over the central portion of the frame without overlapping any of the struts. Other applications are also described.

Abstract: Apparatus and methods are described including a blood pump that includes a frame including a proximal portion, a central portion, and a frustoconical distal portion. An impeller, which is configured to pump blood of a subject, is disposed within the frame, and a pump-outlet tube is fixed over the proximal portion of the frame and at least part of the central portion of the frame. A frustoconical inlet guard, which comprises a rolled sheet of material shaped to define one or more blood-inlet openings, is coupled to the pump-outlet tube, and which is fixed over the distal portion of the frame. Other applications are also described.

Abstract: Apparatus and methods are described including a blood pump that includes a frame and an inner lining, which has a flexural modulus of between 0.1GPa and 2 GPa and lines at least part of the frame. An impeller, which is configured to pump blood of a subject, is disposed within the frame. A pump-outlet tube, which has a flexural modulus of between 0.1 GPa and 0.8 GPa, is fixed over at least part of the frame, and is heat welded to the inner lining. Respective melting temperatures of the inner lining and the pump-outlet tube are within 20 ?C of one another. Other applications are also described.

Abstract: Apparatus and methods are described including a method for manufacturing a blood pump that includes inserting an impeller, which is configured to pump blood of a subject, into a frame including a proximal portion, a central portion, and a frustoconical distal portion. A pump-outlet tube is fixed over the proximal portion of the frame and at least part of the central portion of the frame. One or more blood-inlet openings are formed in a sheet of material. Subsequently to forming the blood-inlet openings, the sheet of material is rolled so as to form a frustoconical inlet guard. The inlet guard is coupled to the pump-outlet tube and fixed over the distal portion of the frame. Other applications are also described.

Abstract: Apparatus and methods are described including a blood pump that includes a frame. An inner lining lines at least part of a central portion of the frame, and an impeller, which is configured to pump blood of a subject proximally, is disposed within the frame. A pump-outlet tube is fixed over the proximal portion of the frame and at least part of the central portion of the frame, and is heat welded to the inner lining. An inlet guard is distal to the impeller and includes multiple proximal flaps disposed between the pump-outlet tube and the inner lining where the pump-outlet tube and the inner lining are heat welded to one another. The inlet guard is made of a material having a glass-transition temperature that is higher than respective glass-transition temperatures of each of the inner lining and the pump-outlet tube. Other applications are also described.

Abstract: Apparatus and methods are described including a left-ventricular assist device that includes a pump-outlet tube that includes a proximal portion and multiple tabs extending proximally from the proximal portion. An impeller is configured to pump a subject’s blood proximally through the pump-outlet tube, such that the blood exits the proximal portion of the pump-outlet tube. A delivery tube is configured to extend, from outside the subject’s body, a drive cable passing through the delivery tube and configured to rotate the impeller. An inflatable element surrounds the delivery tube and is shaped to define one or more grooves, and the tabs being coupled to the delivery tube proximally to the inflatable element. Other applications are also described.

Abstract: Apparatus and methods are described including a left-ventricular assist device that includes a pump-outlet tube that includes a lateral wall shaped to define one or more blood-outlet openings. An impeller is configured to pump blood of the subject proximally through the pump-outlet tube, such that the blood exits the pump-outlet tube via the blood-outlet openings. A delivery tube is configured to extend, from outside a body of the subject, through the pump-outlet tube to the distal portion, a drive cable passing through the delivery tube and configured to rotate the impeller. An inflatable element surrounds the delivery tube proximally to the pump-outlet tube, a distal portion of the inflatable element being everted inwardly and coupled to the delivery tube. Other applications are also described.

Abstract: Apparatus and methods are described including a left-ventricular assist device that includes a pump-outlet tube the defines a lateral wall shaped to define one or more blood-outlet openings. An impeller pumps blood of a subject proximally through the pump-outlet tube, such that the blood exits the pump-outlet tube via the blood-outlet openings. A delivery tube extends, from outside the subject’s body, through the pump-outlet tube to a distal portion of the device. An inflatable element surrounds the delivery tube proximally to the blood-outlet openings and includes a distal inflatable-element portion, which is coupled to an inside of the lateral wall, and a proximal inflatable-element portion, which is wider than the pump-outlet tube and is disposed proximally to the pump-outlet tube. Other applications are also described.

Abstract: Apparatus and methods are described for use with one or more fluid bags configured to exchange fluid with a subject in a bed, including a cart and a cart adjunct, which is removably couplable to the cart. The cart adjunct includes one or more bag-holding appendages, configured to hold the fluid bags, and a coupling element. The cart adjunct is couplable, via the coupling element, to a bedrail of the bed. Other applications are also described.

Abstract: Apparatus and methods are described including multiple tubes, a console, and a cartridge. The cartridge holds the tubes and is configured for insertion into the console such that the cartridge and the console interact with one another. Other applications are also described.

Abstract: Apparatus and methods are described including a cartridge, which includes a first port, a second port, and a third port, and which holds tubes such that respective proximal portions of a purging-fluid tube, a waste tube, and a flushing tube pass through the first port, respective distal portions of the purging-fluid tube, the waste tube, and a pressure-sensing tube pass through the second port, and a distal portion of the flushing tube and a proximal portion of the pressure-sensing tube pass through the third port. Other applications are also described.

Abstract: Apparatus and methods are described for use with a device that includes a delivery catheter, a proximal element, which is disposed proximally to the delivery catheter and is wider than the delivery catheter, an elongate element passing through the proximal element and the delivery catheter, and a self-expandable element coupled to the elongate element. Packaging includes a tray, shaped to define a chamber in which the self-expandable element is packageable, and configured to stabilize the proximal element while the self-expandable element is retracted into the delivery catheter via retraction of the elongate element. A securement piece is coupled to the tray adjacently to the chamber, and is configured to secure a distal end of the delivery catheter while the self-expandable element is retracted into the delivery catheter.

Abstract: Apparatus and methods are described including, by passing a purging fluid through an intracorporeal device, which includes a first component, a second component, an inflatable element, and a self-expandable element, inflating the inflatable element with the purging fluid, and purging an interface between the first component and the second component. By suctioning the purging fluid from the intracorporeal device, the inflatable element is deflated. Subsequently to deflating the inflatable element, the self-expandable element is crimped. Other applications are also described.

Abstract: Apparatus and methods are described including an impeller (50) that includes a proximal bushing (64) and a distal bushing (58). Two or more helical elongate elements (52) extend from the proximal bushing (64) to the distal bushing (58), and an axial structure (54) is disposed inside of the two or more helical elongate elements (52), and along an axis around which the helical elongate elements (52) wind. The impeller (50) includes an impeller-overexpansion-prevention element (72). The impeller-overexpansion-prevention element is a single integrated structure that includes a ring (73) disposed around the axial structure (54), and a plurality of elongate elements (67) each of the elongate elements (67) extending from the ring to a respective helical elongate element (52) and being coupled to the respective helical elongate element (52) so as to prevent radial expansion of the impeller (50). Other applications are also described.

Abstract: Apparatus and methods are described for manufacturing a housing for an impeller of a blood pump. A frame is treated in order to enhance bonding between an inner surface of the frame and an inner lining. Subsequently, the inner lining is coupled to the inner surface of the frame along at least a portion of a central cylindrical portion of the frame. Subsequent to coupling the inner lining to the inner surface of the frame along at least a portion of the central cylindrical portion of the frame, a portion of an elongate tube is placed around at least a portion of the frame. While heating the inner lining, the frame, and the portion of the elongate tube, pressure is applied such as to cause the portion of the elongate tube to become coupled to the frame. Other applications are also described.

Abstract: Apparatus and methods are described for manufacturing a housing for an impeller of a blood pump. A mandrel is placed inside an inner lining, with a central cylindrical portion of a frame disposed around the inner lining, the mandrel being shorter than a length of the inner lining. A portion of an elongate tube is placed around at least a portion of the frame. The inner lining, the frame and the portion of the elongate tube are heated, via the mandrel, and, while heating the inner lining, the frame, and the portion of the elongate tube, pressure is applied from outside the portion of the elongate tube, such as to cause the portion of the elongate tube to become coupled to the frame. Other applications are also described.

Abstract: Apparatus and methods are described including a blood pump that includes an axial shaft configured for insertion into, and rotation within, a subject's body. The blood pump also includes an impeller, which includes a proximal bushing disposed over the axial shaft, a distal bushing disposed over the axial shaft distally from the proximal bushing, and one or more blades. Each of the blades includes a single inner helical elongate element, a single outer helical elongate element, and a film of material extending between the inner helical elongate element and the outer helical elongate element. The blades are proximally coupled to the proximal bushing and distally coupled to the distal bushing such that, as the axial shaft rotates, the blades rotate, thereby pumping blood of the subject. Other applications are also described.

Abstract: Apparatus and methods are described including delivering a left-ventricular assist device to a subject's aorta. The device including a distal-tip element that defines a straight proximal portion, and a curved distal portion, the curved distal portion defining first and second curves with an elongated straight portion between the first and second curves. The distal-tip element is centered with respect to the aortic valve using the curved distal portion of the distal-tip element, to thereby guide the device through the subject's aortic valve atraumatically. A pump pumps blood through from the subject's left ventricle to the subject's aorta. Other applications are also described.

Abstract: Apparatus and methods are described including delivering a left-ventricular assist device to a subject's left ventricle. A tube is positioned such that a proximal portion of the tube traverses an aortic valve of the subject, and a distal portion of the tube is disposed within a left ventricle of the subject. A pump pumps blood through the tube from the subject's left ventricle to the subject's aorta such as to cause the proximal portion of the tube to be maintained in an open state, and to cause at least a portion of the tube to become curved. Other applications are also described.

Abstract: Apparatus and methods are described including a ventricular assist device that includes an impeller configured to be placed inside a left ventricle of a subject. A driving magnet is coupled to a motor and is rotated by the motor. A driven magnet is magnetically coupled to the driving magnet and is rotated by the driving magnet. A drive cable extends from the driven magnet and imparts rotational motion from the driven magnet to the impeller. A set of sensors is configured to detect a magnetic phase difference between the driven magnet and the driving magnet. A computer processor receives the detected magnetic phase difference and determines a physiological parameter of the subject, at least partially in response thereto. Other applications are also described.