Patent ID: 8727959
Filing Date: 2014-05-20
Classification: A61M

Abstract:
1. A catheter pump intended to be inserted in the circulatory system of a mammal, the pump comprising: a hollow catheter having a lumen; a sheath surrounding said hollow catheter and being axially moveable in relation to the hollow catheter; a drive wire arranged in the lumen of said catheter; a drive shaft connected to a distal end of the drive wire to be rotated by the drive wire, the drive shaft being axially movable relative the hollow catheter, the drive shaft having a proximal end and a distal end opposite the proximal end; a foldable propeller coupled to the drive shaft, the propeller being movable between a folded position and an unfolded position; a proximal housing coupled to the proximal end of the drive shaft; a distal housing spaced apart from the proximal housing and coupled to the distal end of the drive shaft; several filaments extending between the proximal housing and the distal housing; a proximal bearing positioned within the proximal housing; and a distal bearing positioned within the distal housing, wherein the drive shaft is journalled between the proximal bearing and the distal bearing, and wherein the propeller is located between the proximal bearing and the distal bearing when in both the folded position and the unfolded position; wherein the proximal bearing is connected to the sheath for axial movement with the sheath relative to the drive shaft, and wherein the distal bearing is connected to the drive shaft, whereby axial movement of the sheath relative to the hollow catheter moves the proximal housing toward the distal housing such that said filaments are unfolded to form a cage; wherein the drive shaft includes a propeller pin that pivotally couples said propeller to the drive shaft for movement between the folded position, in which the propeller is parallel with the drive shaft, and the unfolded position, in which the propeller is perpendicular to the drive shaft; and wherein the drive shaft is surrounded by a sleeve that is connected to the sheath, the sleeve being axially movable with the sheath relative to the drive shaft, said sleeve including actuation pins which are moveable in the axial direction for cooperation with a cam surface of said propeller for unfolding the propeller, whereby a first axial movement of the sheath toward the distal housing unfolds the cage and a second subsequent axial movement of the sheath toward the distal housing causes the actuation pins of the sleeve to engage the cam surface of the propeller to unfold the propeller.