Patent ID: 11857777
Assignee: PROCYRION, INC.
Field: Medical technology (Instruments)
Classification: CPC A  F | IPC A  F

Claim 0:
1. A method of operating a blood flow assist system, the method comprising:
percutaneously delivering an impeller assembly to a treatment location in a blood vessel of a patient, the impeller assembly comprising a rotor assembly and an impeller coupled with the rotor assembly, the rotor assembly comprising a concave bearing surface, the blood flow assist system comprising a drive unit proximal the impeller assembly, the drive unit comprising a drive bearing comprising a convex bearing surface fitting within the concave bearing surface, the convex bearing surface comprising a plurality of distally-projecting segments, the plurality of distally-projecting segments spaced apart circumferentially to define at least one channel between adjacent segments; and
pumping blood longitudinally along a length of the impeller assembly, proximally into a central hollow of the drive bearing, and radially outwardly through the at least one channel.