Catheter of a heart pump shaped for anatomic fit
A heart pump assembly, also referred to as catheter assembly, having a desired anatomical shape is provided. The catheter assembly can include a catheter and a cannula having a bend between a proximal portion and a distal portion. A resting shape of the catheter and the cannula can be selected to allow the distal cannula portion to be positioned at a desired angle relative to an anatomical plane (e.g., a plane of an aortic arch). In some embodiments, a packaging tray can be designed to set the catheter assembly in a desired resting shape. For example, the proximal cannula portion can be positioned at a first angle relative to the catheter, and the proximal cannula portion can be positioned at a second angle out of the plane of the packaging tray via one or more inserts.
1 . A method for setting a catheter assembly in a desired anatomical shape, comprising:
forming at least a portion of a catheter into a curve which lies within a plane, wherein the catheter includes a proximal catheter portion and a distal catheter portion;
rotating and/or translating a cannula relative to the catheter, wherein the cannula includes a proximal cannula portion, a distal cannula portion, and a bend between the proximal cannula portion and the distal cannula portion, wherein the cannula is rotated and/or translated relative to the catheter such that the distal cannula portion extends out of the plane at an angular offset relative to the plane; and
setting a resting shape of the catheter assembly, wherein the resting shape is such that the distal cannula portion extends out of the plane at the angular offset relative to the plane.
2 . The method of claim 1 , wherein the angular offset of the distal cannula portion relative to the plane is substantially equal to an angle between a plane of an aortic arch defined by an ascending portion of an aorta and a descending portion of the aorta and a plane defined by the ascending portion of the aorta and an apex of a left ventricle of a heart.
3 . The method of claim 1 , further comprising, after the rotating and/or translating, connecting the proximal cannula portion to the distal catheter portion.
4 . The method of claim 1 , further comprising, before the rotating and/or translating, connecting the proximal cannula portion to the distal catheter portion.
5 . The method of claim 1 , further comprising, before the rotating and/or translating, engaging the catheter with a first element, thereby fixing the position of the catheter relative to the plane.
6 . The method of claim 5 , further comprising, after the rotating and/or translating, engaging the cannula with a second element, thereby fixing the position of the cannula relative to the plane.
7 . The method of claim 1 , further comprising:
after the rotating and/or translating, thermocycling the catheter assembly such that the resting shape of the catheter assembly is set after completion of the thermocycling.
8 . The method of claim 1 , further comprising, before the rotating and/or translating, holding the proximal catheter portion in a first fixed position relative to the plane.
9 . The method of claim 8 , further comprising, after the rotating and/or translating, holding the cannula in a second fixed position relative to the plane.