Patent ID: 7494477

Claim:
A catheter pump comprising: a catheter comprising: a catheter wall bounding a channel inside said catheter; a distal end portion; a proximal end portion, said proximal end portion communicating with said distal end portion via said channel; at least one inlet passage in said wall; and at least one outlet passage for allowing fluid to flow out of said channel, said outlet passage being located distally from and spaced from said inlet passage; a displacement structure for, while in operation, alternatingly applying suction and pressure for cyclically driving fluid displacement through said channel in a direction away from said distal end portion towards said proximal end portion and in a direction away from said proximal end portion towards said distal end portion, said catheter projecting distally from said displacement structure and said channel communicating with said displacement structure; and a valve in a section of said channel between said at least one inlet passage and said outlet passage, said valve comprising a valve body pivotably suspended for rotation about an axis extending across said channel, between a closed position, substantially closing off said channel and an open position allowing fluid to pass past said valve, wherein said valve body in open position extends along a plane parallel to said channel, in axial view, has a central portion spaced from said pivoting axis and, in side view, projecting from said pivoting axis further in distal direction than in proximal direction; wherein, at least in operating condition, said at least one inlet passage is continuously open.