# US 11,305,105 B2 · Cannula assembly > Agents: this data is available as JSON from the patentgrep API and MCP server — see https://patentgrep.com/llms.txt - Number: US 11,305,105 B2 - Document ID: US11305105B2 - Status: Granted - Kind: B2 - Application number: 16/242,842 - Filed: 2019-01-08 - Published: 2019-05-16 - Granted: 2022-04-19 - Earliest claimed: 2014-05-13 - Assignees: ABIOMED, Inc. - Applicants: Abiomed, Inc. - Inventors: Scott C. Corbett; Caitlyn Hastie - Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US11305105B2 ## CPC - A61M 60/148: in line with a blood vessel using resection or like techniques, e.g. permanent endovascular heart assist devices - A61M 60/13: by means of a catheter allowing explantation, e.g. catheter pumps temporarily introduced via the vascular system - A61M 60/135: inside a blood vessel, e.g. using grafting - A61M 60/237: the blood flow through the rotating member having mainly axial components, e.g. axial flow pumps - A61M 60/414: transmitted by a rotating cable, e.g. for blood pumps mounted on a catheter - A61M 60/857: Implantable blood tubes - A61M 60/865: Devices for guiding or inserting pumps or pumping devices into the patient's body - A61M 60/205: Non-positive displacement blood pumps - A61M 2205/0216: Materials providing elastic properties, e.g. for facilitating deformation and avoid breaking - A61M 2207/00: Methods of manufacture, assembly or production - Y10T 29/49828: Progressively advancing of work assembly station or assembled portion of work - A61M: DEVICES FOR INTRODUCING MEDIA INTO, OR ONTO, THE BODY (introducing media into or onto the bodies of animals A61D7/00; means for inserting tampons A61F13/26; devices for administering food or medicines orally A61J; containers for collecting, storing or administering blood or medical fluids A61J1/05); DEVICES FOR TRANSDUCING BODY MEDIA OR FOR TAKING MEDIA FROM THE BODY (surgery A61B; chemical aspects of surgical articles A61L); DEVICES FOR PRODUCING OR ENDING SLEEP OR STUPOR {(Electrotherapy, e.g. producing anaesthesia by the use of alternating or intermittent currents A61N1/36021)} - Y10T: TECHNICAL SUBJECTS COVERED BY FORMER US CLASSIFICATION ## Abstract Cannula assemblies and methods of manufacturing cannula assemblies are provided. The cannula assembly includes a cannula and a pigtail extension coupled to the cannula. The pigtail extension includes a proximal section having a first stiffness and a distal section having a second stiffness, the first stiffness greater than the second stiffness. The proximal section of the pigtail extension is positioned between the cannula and at least a portion of the distal section. ## Claims ### Claim 1 A cannula assembly for an intravascular heart pump system comprising: a cannula; and a pigtail extension coupled to a distal end of the cannula, the pigtail extension including: a proximal section having a first stiffness and a length, and a distal section having a second stiffness; wherein the proximal section incorporates at least one material configured such that the first stiffness is greater than the second stiffness; wherein the first stiffness is configured such that, when the cannula is inserted into a heart, the proximal section substantially maintains its length to position the cannula within the heart; and wherein the proximal section is positioned between the distal end of the cannula and at least a portion of the distal section. ### Claim 2 (depends on 1) The cannula assembly of claim 1, wherein the proximal section of the pigtail extension has a hardness in the range of about 60 to 100 Shore D. ### Claim 3 (depends on 1) The cannula assembly of claim 1, wherein the distal section of the pigtail extension has a hardness in the range of about 20 to 50 Shore D. ### Claim 4 (depends on 1) The cannula assembly of claim 1, wherein the distal section includes a curved portion. ### Claim 5 (depends on 4) The cannula assembly of claim 4, wherein the curved portion is curved about an axis substantially orthogonal to a central axis of the cannula. ### Claim 6 (depends on 5) The cannula assembly of claim 5, wherein the curved portion is curved by more than about 180 degrees. ### Claim 7 (depends on 1) The cannula assembly of claim 1, wherein the first stiffness is such that the proximal section has a buckling load greater than a thrust force generated by the intravascular heart pump system. ### Claim 8 (depends on 7) The cannula assembly of claim 7, wherein second stiffness is such that the distal section has a buckling load less than a thrust force generated by the intravascular heart pump system. ### Claim 9 (depends on 1) The cannula assembly of claim 1, wherein the proximal section of the pigtail extension has a length of greater than about 10 mm. ### Claim 10 (depends on 1) The cannula assembly of claim 1, wherein the pigtail extension is configured to detachably couple to the cannula. ### Claim 11 (depends on 1) The cannula assembly of claim 1, wherein the distal section of the pigtail extension is between about 25% and 75% of a total length of the pigtail extension. ### Claim 12 (depends on 1) The cannula assembly of claim 1, further comprising a pump coupled to the cannula, the cannula positioned between the pump and the pigtail extension. ### Claim 13 (depends on 1) The cannula assembly of claim 1, wherein the pump is coupled to the cannula by a pump housing component including a plurality of blood exhaust apertures. ### Claim 14 (depends on 1) The cannula assembly of claim 1, wherein the cannula includes a blood inlet manifold. ### Claim 15 (depends on 1) The cannula assembly of claim 1, wherein the proximal section of the pigtail extension is composed of nylon. ### Claim 16 (depends on 1) The cannula assembly of claim 1, wherein the proximal section of the pigtail extension is composed of a polymer including one or more of polyurethane and pebax. ### Claim 17 (depends on 1) The cannula assembly of claim 1, wherein the distal section of the pigtail extension is composed of pebax. ### Claim 18 (depends on 1) The cannula assembly of claim 1, wherein the distal section of the pigtail extension is composed of polyurethane. ### Claim 19 (depends on 1) The cannula assembly of claim 1, wherein the proximal section includes a first layer and a second layer and the at least one material is deposited between the first layer and the second layer. ### Claim 20 (depends on 1) The cannula assembly of claim 1, wherein the at least one material comprises one or more of a metal, a fiber, or a glass. ### Claim 21 (depends on 1) The cannula assembly of claim 1, wherein the at least one material is incorporated into the proximal section by one of injection molding, coextrusion, bonding, or a thermal reflow process. ### Claim 22 (depends on 1) The cannula assembly of claim 1, wherein the at least one material forms a matrix within the proximal section. ### Claim 23 (depends on 1) The cannula assembly of claim 1, wherein the at least one material extends from the proximal section partially into the distal section to reinforce a transition from the proximal section to the distal section. ### Claim 24 (depends on 1) The cannula assembly of claim 1, wherein the proximal section and distal section are formed from a single base material and the at least one material is incorporated into the single base material at the proximal section. ### Claim 25 A method of manufacturing a cannula assembly for an intravascular heart pump system, the method comprising: coupling a pigtail extension to a distal end of the cannula, the pigtail extension including a proximal section having a first stiffness and a distal section having a second stiffness, the proximal section positioned between the distal end of the cannula and at least a portion of the distal section, wherein the proximal section incorporates at least one material configured such that the first stiffness is greater than the second stiffness; and coupling a pump to the cannula, the cannula positioned between the pump and the pigtail extension, wherein the first stiffness is configured such that, when the cannula is inserted into a heart, the proximal section to substantially maintains its length to position the cannula within the heart. ### Claim 26 (depends on 25) The method of claim 25, wherein the proximal section of the pigtail extension has a hardness in the range of 60-100 Shore D.