Pump clean-out system

Abstract

A system for cleaning an implanted blood pump, comprising: an inflow catheter having an expandable inflow member positioned about the periphery thereof; an inflow tube coupled with the inflow catheter; a valve assembly coupled to the inflow tube; an outflow tube coupled to the valve assembly; and an outflow catheter having an expandable outflow member positioned about the periphery thereof, the outflow catheter being coupled to the outflow tube. In use, the inflow tube and outflow tube extend through the skin of a human body, the inflow catheter and outflow catheter are positioned within the human body, and the valve assembly is positioned outside the human body.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . A system for cleaning an implanted blood pump, comprising:
 an inflow catheter having an expandable inflow member positioned about the periphery thereof;   an inflow tube coupled with the inflow catheter;   a valve assembly coupled to the inflow tube;   an outflow tube coupled to the valve assembly; and   an outflow catheter having an expandable outflow member positioned about the periphery thereof, the outflow catheter being coupled to the outflow tube.   
     
     
         2 . The system of  claim 1 , the expandable inflow member being configured to expand outwardly from the inflow catheter and form a seal between the inflow catheter and an inflow cannula of the implanted blood pump. 
     
     
         3 . The system of  claim 1 , the expandable inflow member having a conical distal end defined by a conical interior portion. 
     
     
         4 . The system of  claim 1 , further comprising an inflow lumen configured to allow selective inflation and deflation of the expandable inflow member. 
     
     
         5 . The system of  claim 4 , wherein the inflow tube and inflow lumen are integrated into a dual inflow lumen assembly. 
     
     
         6 . The system of  claim 1 , the expandable outflow member being configured to expand outwardly from the outflow catheter and form a seal between the outflow catheter and an inflow cannula of the implanted blood pump. 
     
     
         7 . The system of  claim 1 , the expandable outflow member having a conical distal end defined by a conical interior portion. 
     
     
         8 . The system of  claim 1 , further comprising an outflow lumen configured to allow selective inflation and deflation of the expandable outflow member. 
     
     
         9 . The system of  claim 8 , wherein the outflow tube and outflow lumen are integrated into a dual outflow lumen assembly. 
     
     
         10 . The system of  claim 1 , wherein the inflow tube and outflow tube extend through the skin of a human body, the inflow catheter and outflow catheter are positioned within the human body, and the valve assembly is positioned outside the human body.