VENTRICULAR ASSIST DEVICE

Apparatus for use with a percutaneous ventricular assist device (20) that comprises a self-expandable pump head (27) and that is configured to be delivered to a subject's left ventricle using a delivery catheter (143), while the pump head (27) is disposed in a radially-constrained configuration within the delivery catheter (143), the apparatus comprising: packaging (270) for the ventricular assist device, the packaging (270) being shaped to define: a pump-head chamber (274) in which the pump head (274) is packaged in a non-radially constrained configuration; and a surface (284) that is slanted downwards; and a catheter-securement piece (276) configured to secure a distal end of the delivery catheter to the surface (284) that is slanted downwards, such that the distal end of the catheter (273) is oriented in a downwards slant, the packaging (270) being configured such that the pump head (27) is configured to be radially constrained by being retracted into the distal end of the delivery catheter (143), while the distal end of the delivery catheter (143) is secured to the surface (284) that is slanted downwards.