Venous blood pump

A method comprising:

• using an occluding element that is placed in a vein of the patient at a downstream location that is downstream of a tributary vessel that supplies the vein, at least partially mechanically occluding the vein of the patient at the downstream location, such as to form a compartment within the vein that is isolated from a downstream region of the vein that is downstream of the tributary vessel;
• and
• using a blood pump that is placed in the compartment, mechanically pumping blood through the vein from the compartment to a discharge location in the downstream region while the vein is at least partially occluded, wherein the blood does not leave the vein while being mechanically pumped.

A method, comprising:

• using an occluding element that is placed in a vein of the patient at a downstream location that is downstream of a tributary vessel that supplies the vein, at least partially mechanically occluding the vein of the patient at the downstream location, such as to form a compartment within the vein that is isolated from a downstream region of the vein that is downstream of the tributary vessel;
• and
• using a blood pump that is placed in the compartment, mechanically pumping blood through the vein from the compartment to a discharge location in the downstream region while the vein is at least partially occluded, wherein the blood does not leave the vasculature of the patient while being mechanically pumped.