Dimensionally adjustable extracorporeal life support cannula

A system for use with an extracorporeal life support system, comprising:

• a cannula comprising a tubular member defining a lumen;
• an actuatable structure embedded within a polymeric material of the tubular member;
• and
• a controller in electrical communication with the actuatable structure;
• wherein the actuatable structure is responsive to an applied voltage from the controller such that an inner diameter of the tubular member changes and an outer circumferential surface of the tubular member changes uniformly as the applied voltage changes;
• wherein the controller is user-configurable to set a desired value for an inner diameter of the tubular member at one or more selected diameters between a first inner diameter and a second inner diameter via an amount of the applied voltage, the first inner diameter being less than the second inner diameter;
• wherein the controller includes a known correlation between the selected inner diameter of the tubular member and the applied voltage, and the controller is configured to send the applied voltage to the actuatable structure to change the inner diameter of the tubular member to the selected inner diameter between the first inner diameter and the second inner diameter.

A method of connecting a patient's vasculature to an extracorporeal life support system, comprising:

• advancing a delivery sheath into the patient's vasculature, the delivery sheath having a cannula slidably positioned therewithin, the cannula comprising a tubular member defining a lumen and an actuatable structure embedded with a polymeric material of the tubular member, wherein the actuatable structure is responsive to an applied voltage to adjust and maintain an inner diameter of the tubular member to one or more selected diameters between a first inner diameter and a second inner diameter, the first inner diameter being less than the second inner diameter;
• moving the delivery sheath relative to the cannula to expose the cannula within the patient's vasculature;
• and
• applying a voltage to the actuatable structure via a controller to shift the actuatable structure from a first configuration to a second configuration while at least a portion of the cannula is disposed within the patient's vasculature to change the inner diameter of the tubular member to one of the one or more selected diameters between the first inner diameter and the second inner diameter while an outer circumferential surface of the tubular member changes uniformly;
• wherein the controller is configured to maintain the inner diameter of the tubular member at the one of the one or more selected diameters.