INTRAVASCULAR BLOOD PUMPS

1 . A method of directing outflow of an intravascular blood pump; comprising:

expanding a collapsible pump from a collapsed configuration to an expanded configuration, the expanding step comprising expanding a collapsible blood conduit and one or more collapsible impellers at least partially within the blood conduit;

positioning a flow diverter in a pump outflow such that a distal end of the flow diverter is in the outflow and proximal to the one or more impellers;

rotating the one or more impellers to move blood through the conduit and towards the outflow;

increasing a radial flow component of the blood within the outflow of the pump with the flow diverter, the increase in the radial flow component of the blood relative to blood flow in the absense of the flow diverter.

2 . The method of claim 1 , further comprising expanding the flow diverter in the outflow from a collapsed configuration to an expanded configuration.

3 . The method of claim 1 , wherein increasing the radial flow component comprises increasing the radial flow component in the outflow with a distal surface of the flow diverter, the distal surface positioned completely in the outflow and having a radial dimension that increases from the flow diverter distal end towards a proximal end of the flow diverter.

4 . The method of claim 3 , wherein increasing the radial flow component in the outflow with a distal surface comprises increasing the radial flow component of the blood in the outflow with a curved distal surface.

5 . The method of claim 1 , wherein increasing the radial flow component of the blood directs blood between proximal struts of the pump.

6 . The method of claim 1 , further comprising expanding a plurality of proximal stuts of the pump, wherein expanding the plurality of proximal struts applies a radially outward force on the flow diverter.

7 . The method of claim 1 , wherein positioning the flow diverter in the pump further comprises reducing the size of a blood re-circulation zone at the outflow.

8 . The method of claim 1 , wherein the expanding step comprises expanding the one or more collapsible impellers such that a blade of at least one of the one or more collapsible impellers is not completely circumferentially surrounded by the blood conduit when the blood conduit is expanded.

9 . The method of claim 8 , wherein a proximal end of the blade extends into the outflow further proximally than a proximal end of the blood conduit.

10 . The method of claim 1 , further comprising allowing the flow diverter to at least partially self-expand by retracting a sheath.

11 . The method of claim 1 , further comprising delivering a fluid into the flow diverter to increase fluid pressure inside the flow diverter.

12 . The method of claim 1 , wherein delivering the fluid into the flow diverter at least partially expands the flow diverter.

13 . The method of claim 1 , further comprising expanding the flow diverter to a bulbous configuration in the outflow.

14 . The method of claim 1 , further comprising expanding the flow diverter into an expanded configuration in which a radially outermost dimension of the flow diverter is at least 70% of a radially outermost dimension of the one or more impellers when the one or more impellers are expanded.

15 . (canceled)

16 . An intravascular blood pump, comprising:

a collapsible pump comprising a collapsible blood conduit and one or more collapsible impellers, the one or more impellers disposed at partially within the collapsible blood conduit when the blood conduit is in an expanded configuration; and

a flow diverter having a flow diverting surface in a pump outflow when the pump is in an expanded configuration, the flow diverting surface having configuration that increases a radial flow component of blood in the outflow, the increase relative to blood flow in the absence of the flow diverter.

17 . The blood pump of claim 16 , wherein a distal end of the flow diverter is proximal to a proximal end of the blood conduit.

18 . The blood pump of claim 16 , wherein the flow diverting surface has a configuration that increases in radial dimension from a flow diverter distal end towards a flow diverter proximal end.

19 . The blood pump of claim 16 , wherein the flow diverter is rotationally uncoupled from the one or more impellers.

20 . The blood pump of claim 16 , wherein the flow diverter has an internal volume in communication with a fluid inflation pathway such that a fluid can be delivered into the flow diverter.

21 . The blood pump of claim 16 , wherein the flow diverter is adapted such that the flow diverter is collapsible to a collapsed configuration within a sheath.

22 - 43 . (canceled)