Percutaneous blood pump outflow window markings

A percutaneous circulatory support device for use with a guidewire, comprising:

• a housing comprising an interior lumen, an exterior surface, a blood inlet, and a blood outlet that includes at least one blood outflow window;
• an impeller disposed within the interior lumen, the impeller configured to rotate relative to the housing to cause blood flow into the blood inlet, through the interior lumen of the housing, and out of the blood outlet;
• a motor operatively coupled to the impeller, the motor configured to rotatably drive the impeller,
• wherein the at least one blood outflow window includes a channel extending from the interior lumen to the exterior surface of the housing, the exterior surface adjacent the at least one blood outflow window comprising a marking.

A method of loading a guidewire into a percutaneous circulatory support device, the method comprising:

• inserting the guidewire into a distal end of a flexible catheter;
• advancing the guidewire through a housing, the housing comprising an interior lumen, an exterior surface, a blood inlet, and a blood outlet that includes at least one blood outflow window;
• advancing the guidewire to an impeller disposed within the interior lumen, the impeller configured to rotate relative to the housing to cause blood flow into the blood inlet, through the interior lumen of the housing, and out of the blood outlet;
• identifying a marking disposed on the exterior surface of the housing adjacent the at least one blood outflow window;
• and
• passing a proximal end of the guidewire out of one of the least one blood outflow window having the marking.