Flexible outflow cannula with shaped outlets

A blood pump, comprising:

• a pump housing having a blood flow inlet;
• a catheter operably coupled to a proximal end of the pump housing, the catheter having an outer diameter that is smaller than an outer diameter of the pump housing;
• a flexible outflow cannula having a proximal end portion operably coupled to the catheter, a plurality of blood flow outlets, and a distal end portion operably coupled to the pump housing, where the pump housing and flexible outflow cannula define a blood flow path from the blood flow inlet of the pump housing to the plurality of blood flow outlets;
• an impeller arranged within the pump housing and configured to be rotatable about an axis of rotation for conveying blood from the blood flow inlet to the plurality of blood flow outlets;
• wherein the proximal end portion of the flexible outflow cannula has a coupled portion coupled to the catheter and an uncoupled portion extending distally from the coupled portion;
• wherein at least one slit is formed through all of the coupled portion and extends to a proximal end of the flexible outflow cannula;
• wherein the plurality of blood flow outlets comprise one or more cut outlets;
• wherein each slit connects to a proximal end of one of the one or more cut outlets, the cut outlet connected to each slit having a tapered proximal end and extending distally from the uncoupled portion;
• and
• wherein either (i) the at least one slit is configured to allow at least a first portion of the coupled portion of the proximal end portion to overlap a second portion of the coupled portion of the proximal end portion, or (ii) the at least one slit is configured to prevent a first portion of the coupled portion of the proximal end portion from overlapping with a second portion of the coupled portion of the proximal end portion.