How a Catheter Blood Pump Extends Its Tip for Guidance
This patent describes a tiny blood pump on a catheter that can extend a part of its tip forward, guided by a separate internal wire, to help it move safely and precisely inside blood vessels.
Original patent title: “Catheter blood pump delivery, guiding systems and methods of use”
This patent describes a tiny blood pump on a catheter that can extend a part of its tip forward, guided by a separate internal wire, to help it move safely and precisely inside blood vessels. Granted in 2026.
Coverage
What does this patent actually cover?
This patent describes a catheter blood pump designed for improved navigation inside the body. It includes a main pump portion with an impeller, which is the part that actually moves blood. A key feature is an "axially extendable member" at the pump's tip, which can move further forward than the impeller's end. This extension is controlled by a "guide member" that runs through the pump. Moving this guide member causes the tip to extend or retract, allowing a surgeon to precisely position the pump. For example, a doctor could extend the tip to carefully probe a vessel or bypass an obstruction before the larger pump portion follows.
The gap
What does this patent NOT cover?
- Does not cover catheter blood pumps that lack an extendable member at their distal end.
- Does not cover blood pumps where the entire catheter is moved for navigation, rather than just an extendable tip.
- Does not cover systems where the extendable member is controlled by external means, such as magnetic fields, instead of an internal guide member.
- Does not cover extendable tips that can bend or articulate in different directions, only those that extend axially.
- Does not cover blood pumps where the extendable member is not in axial communication with a separate guide member.
These exclusions are unique to PatentBrief — derived from the actual claim language, not patent-office boilerplate.
Key facts
What made this novel
The clever part is enabling a precise, controlled axial extension of the pump's distal tip, independent of the main pump body, using an internal guide wire. This allows for fine-tuned navigation and placement in delicate vascular structures without having to move the entire pump assembly.
Schematic visualization of the patent's claim structure. Hand-drawn diagrams in progress for each landmark patent.
Where you've seen this
Real-world examples
Minimally invasive cardiac support devices
Percutaneous ventricular assist devices
Catheter-based circulatory support systems
Why it matters
The bigger picture
Catheter blood pumps are vital for patients with severe heart conditions, providing temporary support during surgery or heart failure. Improving the ability to precisely guide these tiny pumps through complex blood vessels can significantly reduce risks during insertion and placement. This technology could lead to safer, less invasive procedures, potentially expanding the use of these life-saving devices to more patients.
Filed
August 7, 2020
Granted
September 15, 2026
Market context
Who's building on this
Companies in this space
Major medical device companies specializing in cardiovascular care are active in this space. Companies like Abiomed (part of Johnson & Johnson), Getinge, Medtronic, and Abbott develop and produce advanced catheter-based blood pumps and circulatory support systems. These firms continuously innovate to improve the safety and efficacy of minimally invasive cardiac interventions.
Market impact
This patent, once granted, could influence the design of next-generation catheter blood pumps by offering a novel mechanism for precise navigation. It has the potential to reduce procedural complications and expand the applicability of these life-saving devices, making them safer for a wider range of patients. This could lead to increased adoption of minimally invasive cardiac support solutions in the market.
Claim 1 — Plain English
What this patent covers
This patent describes a catheter blood pump designed for improved navigation inside the body. It includes a main pump portion with an impeller, which is the part that actually moves blood. A key feature is an "axially extendable member" at the pump's tip, which can move further forward than the impeller's end. This extension is controlled by a "guide member" that runs through the pump. Moving this guide member causes the tip to extend or retract, allowing a surgeon to precisely position the pump. For example, a doctor could extend the tip to carefully probe a vessel or bypass an obstruction before the larger pump portion follows.
The clever bit
The clever part is enabling a precise, controlled axial extension of the pump's distal tip, independent of the main pump body, using an internal guide wire. This allows for fine-tuned navigation and placement in delicate vascular structures without having to move the entire pump assembly.
What it does not cover
- Does not cover catheter blood pumps that lack an extendable member at their distal end.
- Does not cover blood pumps where the entire catheter is moved for navigation, rather than just an extendable tip.
- Does not cover systems where the extendable member is controlled by external means, such as magnetic fields, instead of an internal guide member.
- Does not cover extendable tips that can bend or articulate in different directions, only those that extend axially.
- Does not cover blood pumps where the extendable member is not in axial communication with a separate guide member.
Patent timeline
Application submitted to the patent office
Patent officially issued
PatentBrief Score
Impact Score
Early stage
Citation count
0/40
No citations yet
Claim breadth
0/20
Narrow claimsclaimsThe numbered statements at the end of a patent that legally define what the inventor owns.Read more →
Recency
20/20
Granted within 5 years
Assignee scale
0/20
Independent or smaller assigneeassigneeThe entity that owns the patent — usually the inventor's employer or a company.Read more →
PatentBrief Impact Score — based on citation count, claim breadth, recency, and assignee scale. Not a legal assessment.
Heuristic Value Estimate
What this patent might be worth
$26K – $84K
Midpoint $53K · 13.8 yr remaining · industry ×2.2
Heuristic only — blends forward/backward citation counts, claim scope, time remaining, litigation history, and CPC-derived industry baseline. Real valuations need a professional appraisal.
Claim text not yet imported for this patent
Concepts involved
Cite this patent
(2026). How a Catheter Blood Pump Extends Its Tip for Guidance (U.S. Patent No. 12,734,351). U.S. Patent and Trademark Office. https://patentbrief.org/patent/us/12734351/catheter-blood-pump-delivery-guiding-systems-and-methods-of-use
Auto-generated from the patent record. Double-check author order and the issue date against the official USPTO document before submitting.
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Common Questions
Frequently Asked Questions
What does How a Catheter Blood Pump Extends Its Tip for Guidance cover?
This patent describes a tiny blood pump on a catheter that can extend a part of its tip forward, guided by a separate internal wire, to help it move safely and precisely inside blood vessels.
When does this patent expire?
This patent is expected to expire on September 15, 2046, when the invention enters the public domain.
What problem does this patent solve?
Catheter blood pumps are vital for patients with severe heart conditions, providing temporary support during surgery or heart failure. Improving the ability to precisely guide these tiny pumps through complex blood vessels can significantly reduce risks during insertion and placement. This technology could lead to safer, less invasive procedures, potentially expanding the use of these life-saving devices to more patients.
What does this patent NOT cover?
Does not cover catheter blood pumps that lack an extendable member at their distal end.
Patent monitoring