Device Components

The equipment is life-saving and managing it may feel overwhelming. Learning how each piece works together will help you feel more comfortable in your daily journey.

Full system diagram — patient silhouette with Impella + AIC labeled (handbook p.29)

1 Heart Pump

There are different Impella® pump models depending on what kind of support you need.

Impella 5.5®
The most common pump for patients needing longer-term support. Usually placed through a small incision near the shoulder, or directly into the aorta during open-heart surgery. The doctor guides the catheter through your artery until it reaches your ventricle.
Impella RP Flex®
Used for right heart support. Inserted through the arm or chest into a vein. The inlet sits in the right ventricle; the outlet delivers blood to the pulmonary artery.
Impella CP®
Can be placed through the skin into a blood vessel in the leg, arm, or chest. Usually used for a shorter time. Patients with a leg placement will need to wear a leg brace to keep the catheter in the right position.

All Impella® devices include a sensor called SmartAssist that helps confirm the catheter is positioned correctly in the heart.

2 Catheter 

The catheter is a long, flexible cord that connects the heart pump (inside your body) to the AIC controller (outside your body). It has two important jobs:

  • It delivers power to the pump to keep it spinning.
  • It sends information back to the controller about how the pump is working.

It is very important that the catheter is anchored to your skin correctly to prevent movement. The insertion site must stay clean and covered to prevent infection.

3 Automated Impella® Controller (AIC)

The AIC is a computer on a wheeled cart that powers and monitors your heart pump. When fully charged, the battery lasts 60 minutes or more.

Alarms
The AIC shows three types of alarms. Your care team will monitor and respond to them. Let them know right away if an alarm keeps sounding without being addressed.

  • CRITICAL (Red)
    Means there is a serious problem with the device that needs urgent attention. May require an echocardiogram, X-ray, or blood work. Examples: battery failure, device disconnect, flow or purge errors.
  • SERIOUS (Yellow)
    Signals that something is not normal and needs follow-up. Examples: battery or temperature issues, signal errors.
  • ADVISORY (White)
    Less urgent — often acts as a reminder or alert for minor issues, like running on battery or changes in purge flow.

4 Purge Cassette

A special fluid flows constantly through the purge cassette system. It moves slowly from the cassette, through the catheter, to the heart pump — stopping blood from entering the motor. Your care team will change the cassette as needed.

Mathematics & Mechanics

There are important numbers on the AIC display that your care team will monitor. Understanding what they mean can help you feel more informed about how your pump is working.

P-Level (Flow Control)

Tells the pump how fast to spin. A higher P-level means more blood delivered to the body.

Impella Flow (L/min)

Shows how much blood is being pumped through the device each minute. A spinning icon indicates the device is running.

Motor Current (mA)

Shows how much energy the pump is using. Helps the team confirm the device is positioned correctly.

Aortic / Left Placement Signal (mmHg)

Pressure waveforms used with left heart support to confirm the device is in the correct position.

Pulmonary Artery Signal (mmHg)

Pressure waveform used with right heart support to confirm correct position.

Purge Flow (mL/hour)

Amount of fluid flowing through the catheter to prevent blood from entering the motor.

Purge Pressure (mmHg)

Amount of pressure needed to push the purge fluid through the pump.

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