Conduit tips and systems and methods for use

A conduit for transporting blood from a blood pump to a vein or artery, the conduit comprising:

• a flexible proximal segment comprising a proximal segment tubular body having a proximal segment proximal end and a proximal segment distal end, wherein the proximal segment tubular body defines a proximal segment lumen between the proximal segment proximal end and the proximal segment distal end;
• and
• a distal conduit tip comprising a tip tubular body having a tip proximal end and a tip distal end, wherein the tip tubular body defines a tip lumen between the tip proximal end and the tip distal end, and wherein the tip proximal end of the distal conduit tip is removably engaged to and extending away from the proximal segment distal end of the proximal conduit segment;
• wherein a first cross-sectional area of the tip lumen of the tip distal end of the distal conduit tip is smaller than a second cross-sectional area of the tip lumen of the tip proximal end of the distal conduit tip or the proximal segment lumen of the proximal conduit segment.

A conduit for transporting blood from an artery, vein, chamber of the heart, or other blood containing structure to a blood pump, the conduit comprising:

• i) a flexible proximal conduit segment comprising a proximal segment tubular body having a proximal segment proximal end and a proximal segment distal end wherein the proximal segment tubular body defines a proximal segment lumen between the proximal segment proximal end and the proximal segment distal end;
• ii) a distal conduit tip comprising a tip tubular body having a tip proximal end and a tip distal end, wherein the tip proximal end of the distal conduit tip is removably engaged to and extending away from the proximal segment distal end of the proximal conduit segment;
• iii) a distal conduit tip-protecting cage structure comprising a plurality of elongated ribs extending distally from the proximal segment distal end of the proximal conduit segment, to a region distal to the tip distal end of the distal conduit tip;
• and
• iv) a side port assembly, wherein the side port assembly includes:
• a side port extending from the proximal conduit segment, and
• a cap joined to the side port, wherein the cap includes a three-way side arm.

A blood pump system comprising:

• a blood pump;
• a first conduit for transporting blood from a first artery, first vein, chamber of a heart, or other blood containing structure to the blood pump, the first conduit comprising:
• a flexible, compression and kink resistant first proximal segment comprising a first proximal segment tubular body having a first proximal segment proximal end and a first proximal segment distal end wherein the first proximal segment tubular body defines a first proximal segment lumen between the first proximal segment proximal end and the first proximal segment distal end, and
• a first distal tip assembly comprising a first distal conduit tip and a first distal conduit tip-protecting cage structure, wherein:
• the first distal conduit tip comprises a first tip tubular body having a first tip proximal end and a first tip distal end wherein the first tip tubular body defines a first tip lumen between the first tip proximal end and the first tip distal end of the first distal conduit tip,
• the first tip proximal end of the first distal conduit tip is removably engaged to and extending away from the first proximal segment distal end of the first proximal segment,
• the first tip distal end of the first distal conduit tip has an end surface, and
• the first distal conduit tip-protecting cage structure comprises a plurality of elongated ribs extending distally from either the first proximal segment distal end of the first proximal segment or the first tip distal end of the first distal conduit tip, to a region distal to the end surface of the first distal conduit tip;
• and
• a second conduit for transporting the blood from the blood pump to a second vein or a second artery, the second conduit comprising:
• a flexible, compression and kink resistant second proximal segment comprising a second proximal segment tubular body having a second proximal segment proximal end and a second proximal segment distal end wherein the second proximal segment tubular body defines a second proximal segment lumen between the second proximal segment proximal end and the second proximal segment distal end, and
• a second distal conduit tip comprising a second tip tubular body having a second tip proximal end and a second tip distal end, wherein the second tip tubular body defines a second tip lumen between the second tip proximal end and the second tip distal end of the second distal conduit tip, and wherein the second tip proximal end of the second distal conduit tip is joined to the second proximal segment distal end of the second proximal segment,
• wherein a first cross-sectional area of the second tip lumen of the second tip distal end of the second distal conduit tip is smaller than a second cross-sectional area of the second tip lumen of the second tip proximal end of the second distal conduit tip or the second proximal segment lumen of the second proximal segment.