Loading guide lumen

1. An apparatus comprising:

an intracardiac pump device having a path for a guidewire extending through the pump device from a first opening to a second opening; and

a lumen which extends from a first end located outside of the pump device, into the pump device through the first opening in the pump device, along the path for the guidewire, out of the pump device through the second opening, to a second end located outside of the pump device;

wherein the lumen is configured to receive the guidewire such that when the guidewire passes through the lumen from the first end to the second end, the guidewire is positioned along the path

and wherein the pump device comprises:

a proximal drive portion comprising a motor;

a distal pump portion connected to a distal end of the drive portion;

one or more discharge ports positioned between the drive portion and the pump portion;

an inflow cannula connected to the distal end of the pump portion, the cannula having a distal end comprising an inflow opening; and

a flexible tubular pigtail extension connected to the distal end of the inflow cannula, and

the guidewire path runs through the tubular pigtail extension, from the pigtail extension into the inflow cannula, through the inflow cannula into the pump portion, and out through a selected one of the one or more discharge ports; and

the lumen extends from a first end located outside of the pump device, into the pump device through the first opening in the pigtail extension, along the path for the guidewire, out of the pump device through the second opening comprising the selected one of the one or more discharge ports, and to a second end located outside of the pump device.

2. The apparatus of claim 1 , wherein the lumen is configured such that, after the guidewire is received by the lumen and positioned along the path for the guidewire, the lumen may be removed without disturbing the guidewire from the path.

3. The apparatus of claim 2 , further comprising a label attached to the second end of the lumen, wherein the label includes instructions for placing the guidewire along the path using the lumen.

4. The apparatus of claim 2 , wherein at least a portion of the lumen has a color which differs from the color of the pump device.

5. The apparatus of claim 2 , wherein the lumen is configured to allow the guide wire to be positioned through the device along the path without substantially flexing the guidewire.

6. The apparatus of claim 1 , wherein the second end of the lumen extends at least about lcm outside of the selected one of the one or more discharge ports.

7. The apparatus of claim 6 , wherein the first end of the lumen extends at least about 4 mm outside of the first opening in the pigtail extension.

8. A method comprising:

obtaining a lumen; and

inserting the lumen into an intracardiac pump device having a path for a guidewire extending through the pump device from a first opening to a second opening;

wherein inserting the lumen comprises positioning the lumen such that the lumen extends from a first end located outside of the pump device, into the pump device through the first opening in the pump device, along the path for the guidewire, out of the pump device through the

second opening, to a second end located outside of the pump device, wherein the pump device comprises:

a proximal drive portion comprising a motor;

a distal pump portion connected to a distal end of the drive portion;

one or more discharge ports positioned between the drive portion and the pump portion;

an inflow cannula connected to the distal end of the pump portion, the cannula having a distal end comprising an inflow opening; and

a flexible tubular pigtail extension connected to the distal end of the inflow cannula; and

the guidewire path runs through the tubular pigtail extension, from the pigtail extension into the inflow cannula, through the inflow cannula into the pump portion, and out through a selected one of the one or more discharge ports; and

wherein positioning the lumen comprises positioning the lumen such that the lumen extends from a first end located outside of the pump device, into the pump device through the first opening in the pigtail extension, along the path for the guidewire, out of the pump device through the second opening comprising the selected one of the one or more discharge ports, and to a second end located outside of the pump device; and

wherein the lumen is configured to receive the guidewire such that when the guidewire passes through the lumen from the first end to the second end, the guidewire is positioned along the path.

9. The method of claim 8 , wherein the lumen is configured such that, after the guidewire is received by the lumen and positioned along the path for the guidewire, the lumen may be removed without disturbing the guidewire from the path.

10. The method of claim 9 , further comprising attaching a label to the second end of the lumen, wherein the label includes instructions for placing the guidewire along the path using the lumen.

11. The method of claim 9 , wherein at least a portion of the lumen has a color which differs from the color of the pump device.

12. The method of claim 9 , wherein the lumen is configured to allow the guide wire to be positioned through the device along the path without substantially flexing the guidewire.

13. The method of claim 9 , wherein positioning the lumen comprises positioning the lumen such that the second end of the lumen extends at least about 1 cm outside of the selected one of the one or more discharge ports.

14. The method of claim 9 , wherein positioning the lumen comprises positioning the lumen such that the first end of the lumen extends at least about 4 mm outside of the first opening in the pigtail extension.

15. A method of loading an intracardiac pump device onto a guidewire comprising:

obtaining an apparatus comprising:

the intracardiac pump device having a path for the guidewire extending through the pump device from a first opening to a second opening; and

a lumen which extends from a first end located outside of the pump device, into the pump device through the first opening in the pump device, along the path for the guidewire, out of the pump device through the second opening, to a second end located outside of the pump device; wherein the lumen is configured to receive the guidewire such that when the guidewire passes through the lumen from the first end to the second end, the guidewire is positioned along the path;

inserting the guidewire through the lumen to position the guidewire along the path; removing the lumen while leaving the guidewire positioned along the path; and

after removing the lumen, introducing the pump device into a subject using the guide wire.