Functional element, in particular fluid pump, having a housing and a conveying element

Abstract

The invention relates to a fluid pump ( 1 ) having a housing ( 5 ) delimiting a fluid chamber ( 13 ) and having a conveying element ( 8 ) for the fluid disposed in the fluid chamber, the housing ( 5 ), with respect to the shape and/or size thereof, being able to be changed between at least a first, expanded state and a second, compressed state. The object, to stabilise adequately a corresponding housing, is achieved according to the invention by the housing having at least one stabilisation chamber ( 19, 20, 25, 26, 31 ) which can be supplied with a fluid pressure and is different from the fluid chamber, the first state of the housing being assigned to a first fluid pressure in the stabilisation chamber and the second state of the housing being assigned to a second fluid pressure.

1 - 21 . (canceled) 
     
     
         22 . A fluid pump comprising:
 a catheter;   a rotor;   an expandable housing defining an inner chamber configured to receive the rotor, the housing configured to transition between a compressed state and an expanded state within a blood vessel, the housing having an outflow opening connected to the catheter and an inflow opening positioned distal of the outflow opening, wherein an outer diameter of the housing is smaller than an inner diameter of the blood vessel when the housing is in the expanded state, wherein the housing comprises an inner wall and an outer wall,   wherein the rotor is disposed within the inner chamber and configured to be radially compressed by the inner wall when the housing is in the compressed state; and   a one-way inflow valve positioned distal to the rotor.   
     
     
         23 . The fluid pump according to  claim 22 , wherein the fluid pump further comprises an one-way outflow valve positioned proximal of the inflow valve. 
     
     
         24 . The fluid pump according to  claim 23 , configured such that, during operation of the pump, fluid is suctioned in through the inflow opening and out through the outflow opening. 
     
     
         25 . The fluid pump according to  claim 23 , wherein the outflow valve comprises outflow valve flaps configured to prevent fluid flow from the catheter to the inner chamber. 
     
     
         26 . The fluid pump according to  claim 22 , wherein the inflow valve comprises inflow valve flaps configured to prevent fluid flow from exiting the inner chamber in a direction distal to the inflow valve. 
     
     
         27 . The fluid pump according to  claim 22 , wherein the housing comprises the inflow valve. 
     
     
         28 . The fluid pump according to  claim 22 , further comprising an elongate hose comprising a proximal end and a distal end, the proximal end of the elongate hose connected to the inflow opening of the housing and the distal end of the elongate hose configured to extend distally into a ventricle of the patient. 
     
     
         29 . The fluid pump according to  claim 28 , wherein the elongate hose comprises the inflow valve. 
     
     
         30 . The fluid pump according to  claim 28 , wherein the housing is configured to be positioned within an aorta and a distal end of the elongate hose is configured to extend distally across the aortic valve. 
     
     
         31 . The fluid pump according to  claim 22 , wherein at least one of the inner and outer wall is configured to contract elastically from the expanded state into the compressed state, 
     
     
         32 . The fluid pump according to  claim 22 , the fluid pump further comprising at least one expandable stabilization chamber, wherein a change in inflation pressure of at least one of the inner chamber or the at least one expandable stabilization chamber corresponds to a transition between the compressed state and the expanded state. 
     
     
         33 . The fluid pump according to  claim 32 , wherein the at least one expandable stabilization chamber is disposed between the inner wall and the outer wall. 
     
     
         34 . The fluid pump according to  claim 32 , wherein the at least one expandable stabilization chamber is configured to be supplied with a fluid pressure, wherein the compressed state of the housing corresponds to a first fluid pressure in the expandable stabilization chamber and the expanded state of the housing corresponding to a second fluid pressure in the expandable stabilization chamber, wherein the second fluid pressure is higher than the first fluid pressure. 
     
     
         35 . The fluid pump according to  claim 32 , wherein the at least one expandable stabilization chamber comprises an expandable region, the expandable region having a distal end and a proximal end, and wherein a distal end of the rotor is positioned proximal to the distal end of the expandable region when the housing is in the compressed state. 
     
     
         36 . The fluid pump according to  claim 22 , wherein the rotor comprises at least one blade, the blade being flexible elastically radially towards the rotor axis. 
     
     
         37 . The fluid pump according to  claim 36 , wherein the rotor consists at least partially of a volume-compressible material. 
     
     
         38 . The fluid pump according to  claim 32 , wherein the rotor is designed to be hub-free. 
     
     
         39 . A fluid pump comprising:
 a catheter;   a rotor;   an expandable housing defining an inner chamber configured to receive the rotor, the housing configured to transition between a compressed state and an expanded state within a blood vessel, the housing having an outflow opening connected to the catheter and an inflow opening positioned distal of the outflow opening, wherein an outer diameter of the housing is smaller than an inner diameter of the blood vessel when the housing is in the expanded state, wherein the housing comprises an inner wall and an outer wall,   wherein the rotor is disposed within the inner chamber and configured to be radially compressed by the inner wall when the housing is in the compressed state; and   a one-way outflow valve positioned proximal to the rotor.   
     
     
         40 . The fluid pump according to  claim 39 , wherein the outflow valve comprises outflow valve flaps configured to prevent fluid flow from the catheter to the inner chamber. 
     
     
         41 . The fluid pump according to  claim 39 , wherein the housing comprises the outflow valve. 
     
     
         42 . The fluid pump according to  claim 39 , further comprising an elongate hose comprising a proximal end and a distal end, the proximal end of the elongate hose connected to the inflow opening of the housing and the distal end of the elongate hose configured to extend distally into a ventricle of the patient.