Abstract: A flexible drive shaft assembly is provided for an intravascular medical device, for example and without limitation, a blood pump, a rotational atherectomy device, or a rotational thrombectomy device. The blood pump embodiment provides an electric motor and a rotational impeller, with a rotational drive shaft disposed therebetween and configured to rotationally drive the impeller. The drive shaft is moved from an undeformed length to a deformed length when connected between the electric motor and the rotational impeller to provide a biasing force on the rotational impeller in the proximal direction to maintain the impeller in a desired axial or linear location. In other embodiments, drive shaft comprises a proximal section with a length and a spring constant and a distal section of relatively longer length and a relatively higher spring constant. In other embodiments, hypotube(s) and/or support mandrel(s) may be provided.

Abstract: A flexible drive shaft assembly is provided for an intravascular medical device, for example and without limitation, a blood pump, a rotational atherectomy device, or a rotational thrombectomy device. The blood pump embodiment provides an electric motor and a rotational impeller, with a rotational drive shaft disposed therebetween and configured to rotationally drive the impeller. The drive shaft is moved from an undeformed length to a deformed length when connected between the electric motor and the rotational impeller to provide a biasing force on the rotational impeller in the proximal direction to maintain the impeller in a desired axial or linear location. In other embodiments, drive shaft comprises a proximal section with a length and a spring constant and a distal section of relatively longer length and a relatively higher spring constant. In other embodiments, hypotube(s) and/or support mandrel(s) may be provided.

Abstract: A medical device with an implantable blood pump and a control and sensing unit configured to determine the flow rate generated by the blood pump when driven by an electric motor, wherein the flow rate is determined using peak-to-peak current data generated by the electric motor and, in some cases, associated heart rate data. In some embodiments, the validity of pulsatility of the resulting blood flow is determined and, if out of predetermined limits, an alarm may be actuated.

Abstract: A flexible drive shaft assembly is provided for an intravascular medical device, for example and without limitation, a blood pump, a rotational atherectomy device, or a rotational thrombectomy device. The blood pump embodiment provides an electric motor and a rotational impeller, with a rotational drive shaft disposed therebetween and configured to rotationally drive the impeller. The drive shaft is moved from an undeformed length to a deformed length when connected between the electric motor and the rotational impeller to provide a biasing force on the rotational impeller in the proximal direction to maintain the impeller in a desired axial or linear location. In other embodiments, drive shaft comprises a proximal section with a length and a spring constant and a distal section of relatively longer length and a relatively higher spring constant. In other embodiments, hypotube(s) and/or support mandrel(s) may be provided.

Abstract: The present invention provides an intravascular blood pump comprising a housing region that may be expandable and collapsible, wherein the expandable housing region includes the inlet to the pump and wherein the distal diameter of the expandable housing region, including the inlet, is larger than a proximal diameter of the expandable housing region. A non-expandable region may be provided and disposed between the expandable housing region and the pump assembly of the intravascular blood pump.

Abstract: The present invention provides an intravascular blood pump comprising a handle in operational connection and communication with a rotational motor and impeller assembly that is configured for placement and positioning within a patient's vasculature. The handle comprises a display for displaying real-time physiological parameters associated with the blood pump procedure and controls for modifying operational parameters. In some embodiments, the display portion of the handle may be connected and/or disconnected from the non-display portion to allow re-use of the display portion in subsequent blood pump procedures.

Abstract: The present invention provides an intravascular blood pump comprising a housing region that may be expandable, wherein the housing region comprises a series of troughs extending along at least a portion of the length of the housing region, wherein the integrated lead trough(s) may be defined by or within the housing region and wherein each adjacent pair of troughs are separated by an insulated spacing gap and may be covered to form insulated conduits. The integrated lead trough(s) may be configured to receive one or more electrical leads therein.

Abstract: The present invention provides an intravascular blood pump comprising a housing region that may be expandable, wherein the housing region comprises at least one trough extending along and/or around at least a portion of the length of the housing region, wherein the integrated lead trough(s) may be defined by or within the housing region. The integrated lead trough(s) may be configured to receive one or more electrical leads therein that may be in operative connection with a sensor and/or working element.

Abstract: The present invention provides an intravascular blood pump comprising an expandable and collapsible region distal to a pump assembly. In some embodiments, the expandable and collapsible region may comprise expandable and collapsible proximal and/or distal transition sections adjacent a central expandable and collapsible region. Support structure, e.g., an expandable and collapsible stent may comprise at least a part of the expandable and collapsible region. In some embodiments, a distal portion of the housing comprises the expandable and collapsible region, wherein an inversion of the distal housing results in a collapsed configuration and eversion of the distal housing results in an expanded configuration.

Abstract: The present invention provides an intravascular blood pump comprising a handle in operational connection and communication with a rotational motor and impeller assembly that is configured for placement and positioning within a patient's vasculature. The handle comprises a display for displaying real-time physiological parameters associated with the blood pump procedure and controls for modifying operational parameters. In some embodiments, the display portion of the handle may be connected and/or disconnected from the non-display portion to allow re-use of the display portion in subsequent blood pump procedures.

Abstract: The present invention provides an intravascular blood pump comprising a housing region that may be expandable and collapsible, wherein the expandable housing region includes the inlet to the pump and wherein the distal diameter of the expandable housing region, including the inlet, is larger than a proximal diameter of the expandable housing region. A non-expandable region may be provided and disposed between the expandable housing region and the pump assembly of the intravascular blood pump.

Abstract: The present invention provides an intravascular blood pump comprising a housing region that may be expandable, wherein the housing region comprises at least one trough extending along and/or around at least a portion of the length of the housing region, wherein the integrated lead trough(s) may be defined by or within the housing region. The integrated lead trough(s) may be configured to receive one or more electrical leads therein that may be in operative connection with a sensor and/or working element.

Abstract: The present invention provides an intravascular blood pump comprising a housing region that may be expandable, wherein the housing region comprises a series of troughs extending along at least a portion of the length of the housing region, wherein the integrated lead trough(s) may be defined by or within the housing region and wherein each adjacent pair of troughs are separated by an insulated spacing gap and may be covered to form insulated conduits. The integrated lead trough(s) may be configured to receive one or more electrical leads therein.

Abstract: The present invention provides an intravascular blood pump comprising an expandable and collapsible region distal to a pump assembly. In some embodiments, the expandable and collapsible region may comprise expandable and collapsible proximal and/or distal transition sections adjacent a central expandable and collapsible region. Support structure, e.g., an expandable and collapsible stent may comprise at least a part of the expandable and collapsible region. In some embodiments, a distal portion of the housing comprises the expandable and collapsible region, wherein an inversion of the distal housing results in a collapsed configuration and eversion of the distal housing results in an expanded configuration.