Cannula having constant wall thickness with increasing distal flexibility and method of making

US6007478A · kind A · utility

Assignee

• Impella Cardiotechnik AG · DE

Inventors

• Thorsten Siess · Aachen, DE
• Helmut Reul · St. Blasien, DE
• Gunter Rau · Aachen, DE
• Jens Hutzenlaub · Aachen, DE
• Peter Robinson Brown · Palo Alto, US

Key dates

• Filing date: Nov 13, 1997
• Grant date: Dec 28, 1999
• Expiry date: Nov 13, 2017

Classification

• Technology area (CPC A): Human Necessities
• CPC primary: A61M2025/0073
• WIPO field: Medical technology
• WIPO sector: Instruments

Abstract

A cannula for use as for example on the inflow end of an implantable intravascular heart pump. The stiffness of the cannula is differentiated along its length, wherein its proximal end is stiffer than its distal end, while a substantially constant wall thickness is maintained along its entire length. Attached to the flexible distal end, is a rigid tip component having inlet ports and an interior surface profile that minimizes the risk of hemolysis and thrombogenisis.