Inlet guards for blood pumps

Abstract

Apparatus and methods are described including a method for manufacturing a blood pump that includes inserting an impeller, which is configured to pump blood of a subject, into a frame including a proximal portion, a central portion, and a frustoconical distal portion. A pump-outlet tube is fixed over the proximal portion of the frame and at least part of the central portion of the frame. One or more blood-inlet openings are formed in a sheet of material. Subsequently to forming the blood-inlet openings, the sheet of material is rolled so as to form a frustoconical inlet guard. The inlet guard is coupled to the pump-outlet tube and fixed over the distal portion of the frame. Other applications are also described.

Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.