Intravascular blood pump and catheter

1. An intravascular system for pumping blood from a chamber of a heart and through a blood vessel, comprising:

a pump device configured to be inserted into a blood vessel; and

a catheter having a proximal end coupled to said pump device, a distal end configured to collect blood, and a first lumen extending from said distal end to said proximal end for transporting blood collected through the distal end, said catheter extending along an axis;

said catheter including a helical portion proximate said distal end, said helical portion being pre formed in shape to conform to adjacent tissue and at least assist with stabilizing and positioning the pump device in the blood vessel, said helical portion extending around said axis generally parallel to a plane transverse to said axis and including an inner portion facing toward said axis and an outer portion facing away from said axis;

wherein said outer portion further comprises a continuous, solid wall and said inner portion further comprises at least one inlet aperture into said first lumen of said helical portion, said at least one inlet aperture being positioned to generally face said axis.

2. The system of claim 1 , wherein said catheter further includes a second lumen, the system further comprising:

a wire inserted into said second lumen, said wire configured to define the shape of the helical portion of said catheter.

3. The system of claim 1 , wherein said catheter further includes one or more radiopaque markers to facilitate positioning said catheter and said pump device within a vascular system.

4. The system of claim 1 , wherein said catheter further comprises a guidewire entry port in said distal end and a guidewire exit port in said proximal end, said entry and exit ports communicating with said first lumen.

5. The system of claim 1 , wherein said pump device comprises:

a pump housing having a first end coupled to said catheter and a tubular body extending from said first end along an axis, said tubular body having an outer surface and at least one side outlet port extending through said outer surface;

a pump positioned within said tubular body of said pump housing;

a motor housing coupled to said pump housing; and

a motor positioned within said motor housing, said motor being configured to operate said pump so that blood is drawn from said catheter, through said pump housing, and exits from said at least one side outlet port.

6. The system of claim 5 , wherein said motor housing has a dome-shaped portion extending along said axis, said dome-shaped portion being configured to prevent areas of stagnant blood flow.

7. The system of claim 5 , further comprising:

a power cable coupled to said motor housing along said axis.

8. The system of claim 1 , wherein said pump device comprises:

a pump housing; and

a motor housing coupled to said pump housing;

wherein said pump housing is defined by a pump inlet housing coupled to said catheter and a pump outlet housing coupled to said motor housing.

9. The system of claim 8 , wherein said pump outlet housing further includes at least two vanes coupling said motor housing to said pump outlet housing.

10. The system of claim 1 , wherein said pump device comprises:

a pump housing having a first end coupled to said catheter and a tubular body extending from said first end along an axis;

a pump positioned within said tubular body of said pump housing; and

a motor housing coupled to said pump housing, wherein said motor housing has a first diameter and said tubular body has a second diameter, the first diameter being smaller than the second diameter such that said pump housing defines an outlet extending along said axis between said tubular body and said motor housing; and

a motor positioned within said motor housing, said motor being configured to operate said pump so that blood is drawn from said catheter, through said pump housing, and exits from said outlet.

11. The system of claim 10 , further comprising:

a power cable coupled to said motor housing along said axis.

12. The system of claim 10 , wherein said motor housing has a tapered portion extending along said axis, said tapered portion being configured to prevent areas of stagnant blood flow.