Intravascular blood pump

An intravascular blood pump, comprising:

• a motor unit comprising a motor;
• a pump unit comprising an impeller, the impeller being configured to pump blood when driven in rotation within the patient, wherein the pump unit is distal of the motor unit;
• a flexible drive shaft extending at least between the motor unit and the pump unit;
• and
• a cannula including a distal end, a proximal end, and at least one blood outflow aperture disposed in a proximal end region of the cannula, the distal end of the cannula being coupled to the pump unit such that the cannula is configured to carry blood from the pump unit to the at least one blood outflow aperture when the impeller is driven in rotation within the patient,
• wherein the motor unit is proximal of, and exterior to, the cannula, and wherein the motor unit, pump unit, flexible drive shaft, and cannula form an assembly that is configured to be inserted into vasculature of the patient;
• and
• wherein the flexible drive shaft extends through a portion of the cannula and is configured to be driven in rotation by the motor, and to thereby drive the impeller in rotation.