Inlet guards for blood pumps

Abstract

Apparatus and methods are described including a blood pump that includes a frame including a proximal portion, a central portion, and a frustoconical distal portion. An impeller, which is configured to pump blood of a subject, is disposed within the frame, and a pump-outlet tube is fixed over the proximal portion of the frame and at least part of the central portion of the frame. A frustoconical inlet guard, which comprises a rolled sheet of material shaped to define one or more blood-inlet openings, is coupled to the pump-outlet tube, and which is fixed over the distal portion of the frame. Other applications are also described.

Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.