Devices and methods for supporting cardiac function

Abstract

Systems, devices and methods are provided for supporting cardiac function. A device comprises a catheter having a shaft with a distal end portion configured for advancing through an aortic valve to a left ventricle of a patient and an impeller coupled to the distal end portion of the catheter. One or more inlets are positioned distal of the impeller and coupled to an internal lumen within the catheter to draw blood from the left ventricle through the inlets and into the internal lumen. One or more outlets positioned proximal of the impeller and coupled to the internal lumen to pump the blood through the outlets and into the aorta. The device further includes an extracorporeal motor coupled to a proximal end portion of the catheter and a drive member extending through the catheter shaft and coupling the impeller with the motor to rotate the impeller. The motor may comprise a non-contact motor that generates a magnetic field to rotate the drive member.

Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.