Abstract: A blood pump assembly has a balloon disposed at a distal region and a driveline disposed at a proximal region and is capable of being employed to provide mechanical circulatory support (e.g., counterpulsation). A blood pump support apparatus has a support structure with a head region and a tail region that is removably disposable in the blood pump assembly. When the support structure is disposed in the blood pump assembly, the head region is disposed within the balloon. When the blood pump assembly is implanted in the descending aorta and the support structure is disposed in the blood pump assembly, forces act on the balloon that would cause the balloon to roll or fold upon itself along an angle with respect to the balloon's longitudinal axis. The head region of support structure opposes these forces.

Abstract: An intra-aortic balloon pump (IABP) assembly is configured to be positioned in a patient's descending aorta to provide support to the patient. The IABP assembly includes an expandable member having a distal end and a proximal end and a driveline having a distal end and a proximal end, the distal end of the driveline is configured to be coupleable to the proximal end of the expandable member. The IABP assembly also includes a first driveline pressure sensor device disposed within the driveline that is configured to generate a first driveline pressure signal communicative of the pressure of the environment external to the driveline. The first driveline pressure sensor device includes a first driveline sensing element that is sensitive to changes in ambient pressure and positioned at or proximate to the distal end of the driveline.

Abstract: A blood pump assembly comprises a balloon defining an elongated inflatable chamber with an opening at the proximal end. The proximal region of the balloon is substantially cylindro-conically shaped, and tapering toward the proximal end of the balloon, the central region of the balloon is substantially cylindrically shaped with a substantially uniform exterior diameter. The distal region of the balloon is substantially cylindro-conically shaped, the distal region of the balloon tapering toward the distal end of the balloon. The length of the distal region of the balloon is greater than approximately 15% of the combined length of the proximal and central regions of the balloon. A driveline may be coupleable to the opening and have a connection element disposed at a proximal end of the driveline. A radio opaque marker may be integrated into the driveline at a distal end of the driveline.

Abstract: Intravascularly delivered blood pumps and associated devices, systems, and methods, are disclosed herein. A method of intravascularly delivering a blood pump in accordance with embodiments of the present technology can include, for example, advancing an elongated delivery dilator through a patient's vasculature such that a first portion of the elongated delivery dilator is externally accessible proximate to the subclavian artery and a second portion of the elongated delivery dilator is externally accessible proximate to the femoral artery. The method can further include attaching the second portion of the elongated delivery dilator to a driveline, which is coupled to a balloon at the opposite end, and then pulling on the first portion of the elongated delivery dilator to move the driveline and the balloon through the patient's vasculature to a target site with the balloon positioned within the aorta.