Introducer assembly and method of use thereof

1. A method of introducing a blood pump into a blood vessel of a subject, the method comprising:

providing an introducer assembly for introducing the blood pump, the introducer assembly comprising:

a shaft elongated along a longitudinal axis, the shaft having a distal end, a proximal end, a lumen extending along the longitudinal axis from the distal end to the proximal end, and a collet mechanism disposed at the proximal end for receiving a guidewire;

a locking component having a distal end and a proximal end, the locking component adapted such that the distal end of the locking component reversibly couples to the proximal end of the shaft,

wherein the locking component has a locked configuration and an unlocked configuration, and

wherein when in the locked configuration, a gripping force is created between the collet mechanism and the guidewire; and

a blood pump device, the blood pump device comprising a drive line coupled with an elongated inflatable balloon having a proximal end and a distal end, the proximal end of the balloon being coupled to the drive line, wherein the distal end of the shaft is fluidly coupled with the drive line of the blood pump device,

elongating the inflatable balloon by advancing the guidewire distally along the lumen of the shaft through the collet mechanism and toward the distal end of the balloon when the locking component is in the unlocked configuration;

transitioning the locking component to the locked configuration such that the guidewire is slidably immovable within the collet;

advancing the balloon into and along a length of the blood vessel, wherein the guidewire is within the balloon lumen and the distal tip of the guidewire is in contact with the lumen side of the distal tip of the balloon;

transitioning the locking component to the unlocked configuration;

withdrawing the guidewire; and

disconnecting the distal end of the shaft from the drive line of the blood pump.

2. The method of claim 1 , further comprising applying a vacuum to the inflatable balloon after the locking component is transitioned to the locked configuration.

3. The method of claim 1 , wherein the balloon is advanced through an access port of an arterial interface device (AID) which provides access to the blood vessel.

4. The method of claim 3 , further comprising applying a sheath over the introducer assembly and the access port before advancing the balloon into the blood vessel.

5. The method of claim 4 , further comprising suturing a stopper disposed over the drive line of the blood pump device to a vascular graph of the AID which is sutured to the blood vessel thereby securing the position of the balloon within the blood vessel.

6. The method of claim 5 , further comprising reversing the applied vacuum to introduce air into the balloon to partially inflate the balloon before withdrawing the guidewire.

7. The method of claim 1 , further comprising fluidly coupling the drive line to a skin interface device (SID).

8. The method of claim 1 , wherein the balloon in positioned in the descending aorta.

9. The method of claim 1 , wherein the position of the balloon in the blood vessel is visualized via fluoroscopy.

10. The method of claim 1 , wherein the locking component and the shaft are threadably attached.

11. The method of claim 10 , wherein the locking component comprises female threads and the shaft comprised male threads.

12. The method of claim 10 , wherein the locking component comprises male threads and the shaft comprises female threads.

13. The method of claim 1 , wherein the proximal end of the shaft is adapted to form a fluid tight seal with the locking component.

14. The method of claim 13 , wherein proximal end of the shaft comprises an o-ring to provide the fluid tight seal.

15. The method of claim 1 , wherein a hose barb is disposed at the proximal end of the locking component.

16. The method of claim 1 , wherein the balloon is sized to displace 50 cc of fluid when inflated upon implantation.

17. The method of claim 1 , wherein a radiopaque marker is disposed on the drive line adjacent the proximal end of the balloon.

18. The method of claim 1 , wherein the guidewire comprises a rounded surface at a distal tip of the guidewire configured to contact the distal end of the balloon.

19. The method of claim 18 , wherein the rounded surface comprises a sphere.

20. The method of claim 1 , wherein the guidewire or a portion thereof is composed of a radiopaque material.

21. The method of claim 1 , wherein the guidewire is coated with a polytetrafluoroethylene coating.

22. The method of claim 3 , further comprising suturing a stopper disposed over the drive line of the blood pump device to a vascular graph of the AID which is sutured to the blood vessel thereby securing the position of the balloon within the blood vessel.

23. The method of claim 22 , further comprising reversing the applied vacuum to introduce air into the balloon to partially inflate the balloon before withdrawing the guidewire.

24. The method of claim 23 , further comprising withdrawing the access port before withdrawing the guidewire.

25. The method of claim 1 , further comprising withdrawing the access port before withdrawing the guidewire.