Patent attributes
Apparatus and methods are described including a blood pump configured to be placed inside a body of subject, the blood pump including an impeller that includes proximal and distal bushings, and a frame disposed around the impeller, the frame including proximal and distal bearings. An axial shaft passes through the proximal and distal bearings of the frame and the proximal and distal bushings of the impeller. The impeller defines a radially-constrained configuration in which the impeller is introduced into the subject's body and a non-radially-constrained configuration in which the impeller is configured to pump blood within the subject's body. The impeller changes from its radially-constrained configuration to its non-radially constrained configuration by the distal bushing sliding over the axial shaft. Other applications are also described.
