INTRAVASCULAR BLOOD PUMPS AND METHODS OF USE
Devices for moving blood within a patient, and methods of doing so. The devices can include a pump portion that includes an impeller and a housing around the impeller, as well as a fluid lumen. The impeller can be activated to cause rotation of the impeller and thereby move fluid within the fluid lumen.
1 . (canceled)
2 . An intravascular blood pump, comprising:
an expandable housing that is collapsible for delivery to a target location, the expandable housing including:
an expandable conduit that defines a lumen, and
an inflatable member, at least a portion of which has a helical shape, that is positioned relative to the expandable conduit such that, when inflated, the inflatable member radially supports the expandable conduit,
the inflatable member in fluid communication with an inflation pathway extending proximally relative to the expandable housing; and
one or more impellers positioned at least partially within the lumen and adapted to pump blood through the lumen.
3 . The blood pump of claim 2 , wherein the inflatable member is secured to the expandable conduit.
4 . The blood pump of claim 2 , further comprising:
a fluid source proximally spaced from the expandable housing and configured such that the fluid source remains outside of the body when the expandable housing is at the target location,
the inflatable member being in fluid communication with the fluid source such that fluid can be delivered (e.g., manually, automatically, or a combination thereof) from the fluid source to the inflatable member to inflate the inflatable member.
5 . A blood pump of claim 2 , wherein the inflatable member does not form the entirety of an inner surface of the lumen.
6 . A blood pump of claim 2 , wherein the inflatable member extends from a conduit proximal end to a conduit distal end.
7 . A blood pump of claim 2 , wherein the conduit includes a deformable membrane that at least partially defines the lumen, the inflatable member being secured to the membrane.
8 . A blood pump of claim 2 , wherein the inflatable member does not form any part of an inner surface of the lumen.
9 . A blood pump of claim 2 , wherein the inflatable member is disposed completely radially outside of a flexible membrane that at least partially defines the lumen.
10 . A blood pump of claim 2 , wherein the inflatable member is positioned relative to the conduit such that its inflation facilitates expansion of the conduit.
11 . A blood pump of claim 2 , wherein the inflatable member axially overlaps with the one or more impellers.
12 . A blood pump of claim 11 , wherein the one or more impellers include a proximal impeller disposed within a proximal half of the conduit and a distal impeller disposed within a distal half of the conduit.
13 . A blood pump of claim 12 , wherein the inflatable member axially overlaps with the proximal impeller and with the distal impeller.
14 . A blood pump of claim 2 , wherein the inflatable member is positioned relative to the impeller such that, when inflated, it provides radial support to the conduit at the location of the one or more impellers.