VENTRICULAR ASSIST DEVICE

An apparatus, comprising: a ventricular assist device (20) comprising: a frame (34) comprising struts that define a plurality of cells, the frame (34) being configured such that, in a non-radially-constrained configuration of the frame (34), the frame (34) comprises a generally cylindrical central portion (38); a pump-outlet tube (24) that defines one or more blood outlet openings (109), a portion of the pump-outlet tube (24) being disposed outside the frame (34) and coupled to the generally cylindrical central portion (38) of the frame (34), such that the portion of the pump-outlet tube (24) conforms with a structure of struts of the frame; an inner lining (39) coupled to an inside of the generally cylindrical central portion (38) of the frame (34), such as to provide the generally cylindrical portion (38) of the frame (34) with a smooth inner surface; an impeller (50) disposed at least partially inside the generally cylindrical central portion (38) of the frame (34) and configured to pump blood through the tube (24) and out of the one of more blood outlet openings (109); and a protective braid (150) disposed over a distal portion (40) of the frame (34) and configured to block structures from the subject's left ventricle from entering into the frame (34), a proximal end of the protective braid (150) being embedded between the pump-outlet tube (24) and the inner lining (39), such that, during crimping of the frame (34), the protective braid (150) becomes crimped with the pump-outlet tube (24) and the inner lining (39), thereby preventing the protective braid (150) from moving with respect to pump-outlet tube (24) or the inner lining (39).