| abstract |
Apparatus and methods are described including a blood pump ( 24 ) configured to be placed inside a blood vessel of a in subject, the blood pump including an impeller ( 28 ) configured to pump blood by rotating. A support cage ( 254 ) is shaped to define a narrow portion ( 256 ) that is configured to be disposed around the impeller, and to maintain a separation between a wall of the blood vessel and the impeller, and a radial extension ( 258 ) from the narrow portion of the support cage that extends radially outward with respect to the narrow portion of the support cage, the radial extension being configured to substantially maintain a longitudinal axis of the impeller in alignment with a local longitudinal axis of the blood vessel by contacting the wall of the blood vessel. Other applications are also described. |