Catheter device

Abstract

The catheter device comprises a motor at the proximal end of the catheter device and a drive shaft, extending from the proximal end section to the distal end section of the catheter device, for driving a rotating element located at the distal end of the catheter device. The catheter device also comprises a hose-like catheter body which encompasses the drive shaft and extends from the proximal end section to the distal end section. At the proximal end of the catheter device, the drive shaft is connected to a motor by a clutch. The clutch is a magnetic clutch with a proximal and a distal magnet unit. The proximal magnet unit is connected to the motor and the distal magnet unit to the drive shaft. The distal magnet unit is mounted fluid-tight in a clutch housing. The proximal end of the catheter body makes a fluid-tight connection with the clutch housing.

1 . An intravascular blood pump device comprising:
 a rotor mounted on a drive shaft and configured to pump blood through a subject's body, the rotor comprising at least a proximal bearing spacer sleeve and a distal bearing spacer sleeve;   a pump housing configured to be disposed around the rotor mounted on the drive shaft, the pump housing comprising a proximal bushing disposed on a proximal side of the rotor mounted on the drive shaft and a distal bushing disposed on a distal side of the rotor mounted on the drive shaft;   wherein the drive shaft is configured to pass through the proximal and distal bushings of the pump housing; and wherein   the drive shaft is configured to pass through a bearing washer such that the distal bearing spacer sleeve is a sliding bearing that contacts the bearing washer to form a distal rotor bearing.   
     
     
         2 . The intravascular blood pump device according to  claim 1 , wherein the rotor is configured to pump blood from a first location within the subject's body to a second location within the subject's body. 
     
     
         3 . The intravascular blood pump device according to  claim 1 , wherein the rotor is configured to pump blood from a left ventricle of the subject to an aorta of the subject. 
     
     
         4 . The intravascular blood pump device according to  claim 1 , wherein the rotor is configured to pump blood from a left ventricle of the subject. 
     
     
         5 . The intravascular blood pump device according to  claim 1 , further comprising:
 a motor configured to drive the rotor to pump blood through the subject's body, by rotating the rotor in a given direction of rotation; and   a drive shaft, a portion of which is configured to extend from outside the subject's body to a pump section of the drive shaft, the drive shaft being configured to impart rotational motion from the motor to the rotor by rotating, at least a portion of the drive shaft comprising a plurality of wires disposed in a wound configuration that is such that, in response to the drive shaft rotating in the given direction of rotation.   
     
     
         6 . A method comprising:
 placing an intravascular blood pump device inside a body of a patient the intravascular blood pump device including:   an impeller with a frame disposed around the impeller, the impeller including proximal and distal spacer bearing sleeves, and the frame including a proximal bushing disposed on a proximal side of the impeller and a distal bushing disposed on a distal side of the impeller, and an axial shaft that passes through the proximal and distal bushings of the frame and the proximal and distal spacer bearing sleeves of the impeller, the axial shaft being coupled to a bearing washer, such that the distal bearing spacer sleeve is a sliding bearing that contacts the washer to form a distal rotor bearing; and   pumping blood through the patient's body, using the impeller.