Patents by Inventor Jason C. Nanna

Jason C. Nanna has filed for patents to protect the following inventions. This listing includes patent applications that are pending as well as patents that have already been granted by the United States Patent and Trademark Office (USPTO).

  • Patent number: 9709061
    Abstract: A centrifugal pump system having an impeller rotating with first and second magnetic structures on opposite surfaces. A levitation magnetic structure is disposed at a first end of a pump housing having a levitating magnetic field for axially attracting the first magnetic structure. A multiphase magnetic stator at a second end of the pump housing generates a rotating magnetic field for axially and rotationally attracting the second magnetic structure. A commutator circuit provides a plurality of phase voltages to the stator. A sensing circuit determines respective phase currents. A controller calculates successive commanded values for the phase voltages in response to the determined phase currents and a variable commutation angle. The angle is selected to correspond to an axial attractive force of the stator that maintains a levitation of the impeller at a centered position within the pumping chamber.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 3, 2016
    Date of Patent: July 18, 2017
    Assignee: TC1 LLC
    Inventors: Masamichi Yanai, Jeffrey H. Campau, Jason C. Nanna
  • Patent number: 9556873
    Abstract: A centrifugal pump system having an impeller rotating with first and second magnetic structures on opposite surfaces. A levitation magnetic structure is disposed at a first end of a pump housing having a levitating magnetic field for axially attracting the first magnetic structure. A multiphase magnetic stator at a second end of the pump housing generates a rotating magnetic field for axially and rotationally attracting the second magnetic structure. A commutator circuit provides a plurality of phase voltages to the stator. A sensing circuit determines respective phase currents. A controller calculates successive commanded values for the phase voltages during a running state in response to a desired impeller speed and an actual impeller phase. The controller has a startup interval during which the commanded values of the phase voltages are determined in response to a pseudo impeller phase and in response to a ramping gain factor.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 27, 2013
    Date of Patent: January 31, 2017
    Assignee: TC1 LLC
    Inventors: Masamichi Yanai, Jeffrey H. Campau, Russel J. Corvese, Jason C. Nanna
  • Publication number: 20160281720
    Abstract: A centrifugal pump system having an impeller rotating with first and second magnetic structures on opposite surfaces. A levitation magnetic structure is disposed at a first end of a pump housing having a levitating magnetic field for axially attracting the first magnetic structure. A multiphase magnetic stator at a second end of the pump housing generates a rotating magnetic field for axially and rotationally attracting the second magnetic structure. A commutator circuit provides a plurality of phase voltages to the stator. A sensing circuit determines respective phase currents. A controller calculates successive commanded values for the phase voltages in response to the determined phase currents and a variable commutation angle. The angle is selected to correspond to an axial attractive force of the stator that maintains a levitation of the impeller at a centered position within the pumping chamber.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 3, 2016
    Publication date: September 29, 2016
    Inventors: Masamichi Yanai, Jeffrey H. Campau, Jason C. Nanna
  • Patent number: 9371826
    Abstract: A centrifugal pump system having an impeller rotating with first and second magnetic structures on opposite surfaces. A levitation magnetic structure is disposed at a first end of a pump housing having a levitating magnetic field for axially attracting the first magnetic structure. A multiphase magnetic stator at a second end of the pump housing generates a rotating magnetic field for axially and rotationally attracting the second magnetic structure. A commutator circuit provides a plurality of phase voltages to the stator. A sensing circuit determines respective phase currents. A controller calculates successive commanded values for the phase voltages in response to the determined phase currents and a variable commutation angle. The angle is selected to correspond to an axial attractive force of the stator that maintains a levitation of the impeller at a centered position within the pumping chamber.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 24, 2013
    Date of Patent: June 21, 2016
    Assignee: THORATEC CORPORATION
    Inventors: Masamichi Yanai, Jeffrey H. Campau, Jason C. Nanna
  • Patent number: 9127680
    Abstract: The magnetic balance is verified of a magnetically-levitated impeller of a centrifugal pump with a pump housing having levitation magnets. The impeller includes embedded magnets and is movable within a chamber in the pump housing between first and second sides of the chamber. The centrifugal pump is mounted on an acceleration fixture while the impeller is held against a predetermined one of the first and second sides by the levitation magnets. A plurality of predetermined accelerations are applied to the acceleration fixture to exert a plurality of different forces of acceleration on the impeller. A determination is made whether the impeller detaches from the predetermined side as a result of each different force of acceleration to identify adjacent forces for which a transition occurs between detaching and not detaching. The transition is compared with a desired retention force to determine whether the pump achieves magnetic balance.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 5, 2013
    Date of Patent: September 8, 2015
    Assignee: Thoratec Corporation
    Inventors: Masamichi Yanai, Jason C. Nanna
  • Publication number: 20140298905
    Abstract: The magnetic balance is verified of a magnetically-levitated impeller of a centrifugal pump with a pump housing having levitation magnets. The impeller includes embedded magnets and is movable within a chamber in the pump housing between first and second sides of the chamber. The centrifugal pump is mounted on an acceleration fixture while the impeller is held against a predetermined one of the first and second sides by the levitation magnets. A plurality of predetermined accelerations are applied to the acceleration fixture to exert a plurality of different forces of acceleration on the impeller. A determination is made whether the impeller detaches from the predetermined side as a result of each different force of acceleration to identify adjacent forces for which a transition occurs between detaching and not detaching. The transition is compared with a desired retention force to determine whether the pump achieves magnetic balance.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 5, 2013
    Publication date: October 9, 2014
    Applicant: THORATEC CORPORATION
    Inventors: Masamichi Yanai, Jason C. Nanna
  • Publication number: 20140241904
    Abstract: A centrifugal pump system having an impeller rotating with first and second magnetic structures on opposite surfaces. A levitation magnetic structure is disposed at a first end of a pump housing having a levitating magnetic field for axially attracting the first magnetic structure. A multiphase magnetic stator at a second end of the pump housing generates a rotating magnetic field for axially and rotationally attracting the second magnetic structure. A commutator circuit provides a plurality of phase voltages to the stator. A sensing circuit determines respective phase currents. A controller calculates successive commanded values for the phase voltages during a running state in response to a desired impeller speed and an actual impeller phase. The controller has a startup interval during which the commanded values of the phase voltages are determined in response to a pseudo impeller phase and in response to a ramping gain factor.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 27, 2013
    Publication date: August 28, 2014
    Applicant: THORATEC CORPORATION
    Inventors: Masamichi Yanai, Jeffrey H. Campau, Russel J. Corvese, Jason C. Nanna
  • Publication number: 20140205467
    Abstract: A centrifugal pump system having an impeller rotating with first and second magnetic structures on opposite surfaces. A levitation magnetic structure is disposed at a first end of a pump housing having a levitating magnetic field for axially attracting the first magnetic structure. A multiphase magnetic stator at a second end of the pump housing generates a rotating magnetic field for axially and rotationally attracting the second magnetic structure. A commutator circuit provides a plurality of phase voltages to the stator. A sensing circuit determines respective phase currents. A controller calculates successive commanded values for the phase voltages in response to the determined phase currents and a variable commutation angle. The angle is selected to correspond to an axial attractive force of the stator that maintains a levitation of the impeller at a centered position within the pumping chamber.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 24, 2013
    Publication date: July 24, 2014
    Applicant: THORATEC CORPORATION
    Inventors: Masamichi Yanai, Jeffrey H. Campau, Jason C. Nanna