Partially-deformable impeller and catheter blood pump incorporating same

A catheter blood pump including a portion that is adapted to be inserted into a patient's vascular system, the portion of the catheter blood pump that is adapted to be inserted into the patient's vascular system comprising:

• a partially deformable impeller having a first undeformed diameter, the partially deformable impeller having at least two blades, wherein a periphery of each blade is deformable, the periphery being about 5 to about 20 percent of a width of the blade;
• a sheath having an outer diameter, wherein, the partially deformable impeller is always external to the sheath and cannot fit within the sheath;
• an impeller housing, wherein the impeller housing is expandable and contractible in diameter;
• and
• an actuator, wherein the actuator is operable to position the impeller housing outside the sheath with the impeller housing in an expanded-diameter state and with the catheter blood pump in a first state, and to position the impeller housing inside the sheath with the impeller housing in a contracted-diameter state and with the catheter blood pump in a second state, wherein:
• a) in the first state, the catheter blood pump is configured for pumping operations, wherein (1 the impeller housing is in the expanded-diameter state, and (ii) the partially deformable impeller is disposed in the impeller housing;
• and
• b) in the second state, the portion of the catheter blood pump is configured for movement through the vascular system, wherein (i) the impeller housing is in the contracted-diameter state and is disposed within the sheath, and (ii) the at least two blades of the partially deformable impeller are exposed to environmental conditions whereby the at least two blades are not contained in any structure of the catheter blood pump.