Devices for pumping blood, related systems, and related methods

1. An intravascular device for pumping blood, comprising:

a catheter comprising a membrane chamber located between a proximal end and a distal end of the catheter, wherein following intravascular insertion the membrane chamber is moveable between a contracted configuration and an expanded configuration that has a first diameter;

an inflatable membrane disposed within the membrane chamber, wherein the membrane chamber comprises a chamber wall free of valves;

a valve chamber separate from the membrane chamber, wherein the valve chamber has a second diameter that is smaller than the first diameter of the membrane chamber;

a first one-way valve configured to permit blood flow in a first direction;

a second one-way valve configured to permit blood flow in the first direction, the second one-way valve positioned distal to the membrane chamber, wherein the second one-way valve is configured as an inlet valve formed in the distal end of the catheter, and wherein the first one-way valve is configured as an outlet valve and is positioned between the membrane chamber and the proximal end of the catheter; and

a third one-way valve positioned between the second one-way valve and the membrane chamber, wherein the third one-way valve is configured to permit blood flow in a second direction opposite to the first direction.

2. The device claim 1 , wherein one of the first and second one-way valves forms part of or is located within the valve chamber.

3. The device of claim 2 , further comprising a second valve chamber separate from the membrane chamber, wherein each of the first and second one-way valves forms part of or is located within a respective one of the valve chambers.

4. The device of claim 3 , wherein at least one valve chamber has a profile, when viewed along a lengthwise direction of the device, that is smaller than a profile of the membrane chamber, when viewed along the lengthwise direction of the device.

5. The device of claim 2 , wherein the valve chamber has a profile, when viewed along a lengthwise direction of the device, that is smaller than a profile of the membrane chamber, when viewed along the lengthwise direction of the device.

6. The device of claim 3 , wherein the catheter further comprises first and second tube portions that extend proximally and distally from the membrane chamber, respectively, and wherein at least one valve chamber has a profile, when viewed along a lengthwise direction of the device, equal to or greater than a profile of the tube portions of the catheter, when viewed along the lengthwise direction of the device.

7. The device of claim 1 , wherein at least one of the first and second one-way valves is located on the device so as to be positioned adjacent to at least one of a left common carotid artery, a right common carotid artery, and a renal artery during use.

8. The device of claim 1 , wherein at least one of the first and second one-way valves is located on the device so as to be positioned in a pulmonary artery during use.

9. The device of claim 1 , wherein at least one of the first and second one-way valves is located on the device so as to be positioned adjacent to at least one of a renal vein and a hepatic vein when the device is positioned within a patient's heart for left-heart support.

10. The device of claim 1 , wherein the second one-way valve is disposed within a valve chamber formed as an inlet tube connected to the membrane chamber.

11. The device of claim 1 , wherein the first one-way valve is disposed within a valve chamber formed as an outlet tube connected to the membrane chamber.

12. The device of claim 1 , wherein a marker is associated with at least one of the first and second one-way valves to facilitate positioning of the device via fluoroscopic imaging.

13. The device of claim 3 , wherein a central axis of the second valve chamber is offset from a longitudinal axis of the catheter.

14. A system for pumping blood, comprising:

an intravascular device according to claim 1 ; and

a connector assembly configured to connect to the intravascular device and to a pump console and configured to allow settings on the pump console to be altered for use with the intravascular device.

15. The device of claim 1 , wherein the valve chamber is located between and in fluid communication with the catheter and the membrane chamber.

16. An intravascular device for pumping blood, comprising:

a catheter comprising a membrane chamber located between a proximal end and a distal end of the catheter, wherein following intravascular insertion the membrane chamber is moveable between a contracted configuration and an expanded configuration that has a first diameter;

an inflatable membrane disposed within the membrane chamber, wherein the membrane chamber comprises a chamber wall having a first diameter and that is free of valves;

a first valve chamber separate from the membrane chamber, wherein the first valve chamber has a second diameter that is smaller than the first diameter of the chamber wall of the membrane chamber;

a first one-way valve configured to permit blood flow in a first direction, wherein the first one-way valve is disposed within the first valve chamber;

a second valve chamber separate from the membrane chamber, wherein the second valve chamber has a third diameter that is smaller than the first diameter of the chamber wall of the membrane chamber; and

a second one-way valve configured to permit blood flow in a second direction, wherein the second one-way valve is disposed within the second valve chamber.

17. The device of claim 16 , wherein the second valve chamber is adjacent the membrane chamber and the first valve chamber is not adjacent to the membrane chamber.