Abstract: A power system for an implantable heart pump is provided. The system includes two batteries, a microprocessor controller, two motor drivers, a multiplexer, two stators and a TET coil. During normal operation, only one battery and one motor driver are in use at a time to drive both stators.

Abstract: An implantable rotary sealless blood pump is provided. The pump includes a housing having an inlet tube on one end and an impeller casing on the other end. A rotor is mounted for rotation within the housing, with the rotor having an elongated shaft portion and an impeller attached to the shaft portion. The impeller is located within the impeller casing. Radial magnetic bearings are carried by the shaft portion and radial magnetic bearings are carried by the housing for maintaining the shaft portion of the rotor within the inlet tube of the housing. A rotor motor includes a plurality of permanent magnets carried by the impeller and a motor stator including an electrically conductive coil located within the housing. A ring of back iron is carried by the impeller to aid in completing a flux return path for the permanent magnets. A plurality of hydrodynamic thrust bearings are located outside of the axis of rotation of the rotor.

Abstract: An implantable rotary sealless blood pump includes a housing having an inlet tube on one end and an impeller casing on the other end. A rotor is mounted for rotation within the housing, with the rotor having an elongated shaft portion and an impeller attached to the shaft portion. The impeller is located within the impeller casing. Radial magnetic bearings are carried by the shaft portion and radial magnetic bearings are carried by the housing for maintaining the shaft portion of the rotor within the inlet tube of the housing. A rotor motor includes a plurality of permanent magnets carried by the impeller and a motor stator including an electrically conductive coil located within the housing. A ring of back iron is carried by the impeller to aid in completing a flux return path for the permanent magnets. A plurality of hydrodynamic thrust bearings are located outside of the axis of rotation of the rotor.

Abstract: An implantable rotary blood pump including a rotor mounted for rotation within a pump housing. The rotor has a shaft portion and an impeller carried by the shaft portion. A rotor motor is provided, with the motor including a plurality of permanent magnets carried by the impeller and motor stators on opposite sides of the impeller. The motor is operable to transmit torque and also to provide an axial magnetic force that acts as an axial bearing.

Abstract: A implantable rotary sealless blood pump is provided. The pump includes a housing having an inlet tube on one end and an impeller casing on the other end. A rotor is mounted for rotation within the housing, with the rotor having an elongated shaft portion and an impeller attached to the shaft portion. The impeller is located within the impeller casing. Radial magnetic bearings are carried by the shaft portion and radial magnetic bearings are carried by the housing for maintaining the shaft portion of the rotor within the inlet tube of the housing. A rotor motor includes a plurality of permanent magnets carried by the impeller and a motor stator including an electrically conductive coil located within the housing. A ring of back iron is carried by the impeller to aid in completing a flux return path for the permanent magnets. A plurality of hydrodynamic thrust bearings are located outside of the axis of rotation of the rotor.

Abstract: An implantable rotary sealless blood pump is provided. The pump can include hydrodynamic, magnetic and hybrid, hydrodynamic/magnetic bearings and combinations thereof. The rotor can include a shaft or the pump can be made shaftless. Close clearances may be maintained between the housing and the rotor by offsetting magnets or offsetting magnets and motor stators.

Abstract: A blood pump is provided which comprises a cross-flow pump head having an elongated generally cylindrical housing portion. The housing portion defines a blood inlet port on a surface thereof and a blood outlet port on an opposite surface thereof. An impeller within the housing portion provides cross-flow of the blood from the inlet port around and/or across the rotational axis of the impeller to the outlet, and a motor is provided for driving the cross-flow pump head. The blood pump may be small enough to permit percutaneous insertion of the pump into a patient's blood vessel, and thus may be utilizable as a left ventricular assist device. To this end, a collapsible polymeric outflow tube is coupled to the blood flow outlet and is adapted for directing the blood from the left ventricle to the aorta through the aortic valve.

Abstract: An implantable rotary blood pump including a rotor mounted for rotation within a pump housing. The rotor has a shaft portion and an impeller carried by the shaft portion. A rotor motor is provided, with a motor including a plurality of permanent magnets carried by the impeller and motor stators on opposite sides of the impeller. Structural members are provided between the impeller and stators to provide structural support and hermetical sealing. The structural members comprise biocompatible, corrosion resistant, electrically non-conducting ceramic material, which alleviate eddy current losses.

Abstract: A power system for an implantable heart pump is provided. The system includes two batteries, a microprocessor controller, two motor drivers, a multiplexer, two stators and a TET coil. During normal operation, only one battery and one motor driver are in use at a time to drive both stators.

Abstract: An implantable rotary blood pump including a rotor mounted for rotation within a pump housing. The rotor has a shaft portion and an impeller carried by the shaft portion. A rotor motor is provided, with the motor including a plurality of permanent magnets carried by the impeller and motor stators on opposite sides of the impeller. The motor is operable to transmit torque and also to provide an axial magnetic force that acts as an axial bearing.

Abstract: A blood pump comprising: a pump housing, and a rotor mounted for rotation within the housing. The rotor has a rotational axis and an attached impeller. The blood pump has a blood flow path that passes about the rotor, with the rotor having a peripheral edge surrounding an end face. The end face has a profiled surface that augments blood flow radially outwardly from a central portion of the end face toward the peripheral edge as the rotor rotates when compared with a flat end face.

Abstract: An implantable rotary sealless blood pump is provided. The pump includes a housing having an inlet tube on one end and an impeller casing on the other end. A rotor is mounted for rotation within the housing, with the rotor having an elongated shaft portion and an impeller attached to the shaft portion. The impeller is located within the impeller casing. Radial magnetic bearings are carried by the shaft portion and radial magnetic bearings are carried by the housing for maintaining the shaft portion of the rotor within the inlet tube of the housing. A rotor motor includes a plurality of permanent magnets carried by the impeller and a motor stator including an electrically conductive coil located within the housing. A ring of back iron is carried by the impeller to aid in completing a flux return path for the permanent magnets. A plurality of hydrodynamic thrust bearings are located outside of the axis of rotation of the rotor.

Abstract: An implantable rotary sealless blood pump is provided. The pump includes a housing having an inlet tube on one end and an impeller casing on the other end. A rotor is mounted for rotation within the housing, with the rotor having an elongated shaft portion and an impeller attached to the shaft portion. The impeller is located within the impeller casing. Radial magnetic bearings are carried by the shaft portion and radial magnetic bearings are carried by the housing for maintaining the shaft portion of the rotor within the inlet tube of the housing. A rotor motor includes a plurality of permanent magnets carried by the impeller and a motor stator including an electrically conductive coil located within the housing. A ring of back iron is carried by the impeller to aid in completing a flux return path for the permanent magnets. A plurality of hydrodynamic thrust bearings are located outside of the axis of rotation of the rotor.

Abstract: An implantable rotary blood pump without a shaft seal. The pump includes a rotary element, having a pump impeller on one end. The impeller is specially designed with large, thick blades and tall, narrow blood channels, to minimize hemolysis. The rotary element and the impeller are maintained in radial alignment by respective, passive magnetic bearings. Axial restraint of the rotary element is provided by blood immersed thrust bearings, spaced a slight distance from either end of the rotor. Drive for the rotary element is provided by a structurally integrated, brushless electric motor. A plurality of permanent magnets is arranged in circular fashion within the impeller, constituting a rotor for the motor. The motor's stator includes circular windings of conductive wire, located within the pump housing and concentric with the rotor. With the stator energized, electromagnetic forces between the stator and the motor rotor cause the rotary element and the impeller to rotate.