Inventors:
Mark W. McBride - Bellefonte PA, US
David A. Boger - Glenside PA, US
Robert L. Campbell - State College PA, US
Gregory P. Dillon - State College PA, US
Stephen A. Hambric - State College PA, US
Robert F. Kunz - State College PA, US
Boris Leschinsky - Mahwah NJ, US
Thomas M. Mallison - State College PA, US
James P. Runt - State College PA, US
Justin M. Walsh - Spring Mills PA, US
Assignee:
Thoratec Corporation - Pleasanton CA
The Penn State Research Foundation - University Park PA
International Classification:
A61M 1/12, F04D 29/38
US Classification:
600 16, 416412, 416234, 416240
Abstract:
An impeller includes a hub and at least one blade supported by the hub. The impeller has a stored configuration in which the blade is compressed so that its distal end moves towards the hub, and a deployed configuration in which the blade extends away from the hub. The impeller may be part of a pump for pumping fluids, such as pumping blood within a patient. A blood pump may include a cannula having a proximal portion with a fixed diameter, and a distal portion with an expandable diameter. The impeller may reside in the expandable portion of the cannula. The cannula may have a compressed diameter which allows it to be inserted percutaneously into a patient. Once at a desired location, the expandable portion of the cannula may be expanded and the impeller expanded to the deployed configuration. A flexible drive shaft may extend through the cannula for rotationally driving the impeller within the patient's body.