Abstract: A pump assembly and estimation and control system therefor, the pump adapted for continuous flow pumping of blood. In a particular form, the pump is a centrifugal pump wherein the impeller is entirely sealed within the pump housing and is exclusively hydrodynamically suspended therein against movement in three translational and two rotational degrees of freedom as the impeller rotates within the fluid urged by electromagnetic means external to the pump cavity. Hydrodynamic suspension is assisted by the impeller having deformities therein such as blades with surfaces tapered from the leading edges to the trailing edges of bottom and top surfaces thereof.

Abstract: Various “contactless” bearing mechanisms including hydrodynamic, hydrostatic, and magnetic bearings are provided for a rotary pump as alternatives to mechanical contact bearings. These design features may be combined. In one embodiment, the pump apparatus includes a rotor having a bore, a ring-shaped upper rotor bearing magnet, and a ring-shaped lower rotor bearing magnet. The bearing magnets are concentric with the bore. The lack of mechanical contact bearings enables longer life pump operation and less damage to working fluids such as blood.

Abstract: Various “contactless” bearing mechanisms including hydrodynamic and magnetic bearings are provided for a rotary pump as alternatives to mechanical contact bearings. In one embodiment, a pump apparatus includes a pump housing defining a pumping chamber. The housing has a spindle extending into the pumping chamber. A spindle magnet assembly includes first and second magnets disposed within the spindle. The first and second magnets are arranged proximate each other with their respective magnetic vectors opposing each other. The lack of mechanical contact bearings enables longer life pump operation and less damage to working fluids such as blood.

Abstract: A sealless-type centrifugal pump includes a casing that forms a pump chamber having a liquid inflow port and an outflow port, an impeller disposed in the pump chamber and rotatably supported by a pivot bearing, and a magnetic coupling device including a driven permanent magnet built into the impeller and a driving magnet that rotationally drives the driven permanent magnet through a partition. The impeller supported in the direction of the rotation axis with respect to the casing is driven by the magnetic coupling device, and pressure is applied to liquid introduced from the direction of the rotation axis through the inflow port to send the liquid through the outflow port in a radial direction. The magnetic coupling device is disposed on a line inclined from an impeller rotating surface to the inflow port side toward the center of the rotation axis.

Abstract: A sealless-type centrifugal pump includes a casing that forms a pump chamber having a liquid inflow port and an outflow port, an impeller disposed in the pump chamber and rotatably supported by a pivot bearing, and a magnetic coupling device including a driven permanent magnet built into the impeller and a driving magnet that rotationally drives the driven permanent magnet through a partition. The impeller supported in the direction of the rotation axis with respect to the casing is driven by the magnetic coupling device, and pressure is applied to liquid introduced from the direction of the rotation axis through the inflow port to send the liquid through the outflow port in a radial direction. The magnetic coupling device is disposed on a line inclined from an impeller rotating surface to the inflow port side toward the center of the rotation axis.

Abstract: A rotary blood pump includes a casing defining a pumping chamber. The pumping chamber has a blood inlet and a tangential blood outlet. One or more motor stators are provided outside of the pumping chamber. A rotatable impeller is within the pumping chamber and is adapted to cause blood entering the pumping chamber to move to the blood outlet. The impeller has one or more magnetic regions. The impeller is radially constrained in rotation by magnetic coupling to one or more motor stators and is axially constrained in rotation by one or more hydrodynamic thrust bearing surfaces on the impeller.

Abstract: A disposable centrifugal blood pump with magnetic coupling provides a centrifugal blood pump with magnetic coupling which is simple in structure of disposable parts with low cost. Therefore, a housing as the disposable part includes a rotor having pole faces extending on the outer-peripheral surface and projecting inward from the inner-peripheral surface and an impeller attached to the rotor, and a stator as a reusable part includes three or more electromagnets for electromagnetic coupling for forming a magnetic coupling between the stator and the rotor, a torque transmission disk formed by sandwiching a ring-shaped permanent magnet between two upper and lower ring members and having pole faces corresponding to the pole faces projecting from the inner-peripheral surface of the rotor formed to project for generating a magnetic coupling between stator and rotor, a motor for rotating the torque transmission disk, and a displacement gauge for measuring displacement of the rotor.

Abstract: Various “contactless” bearing mechanisms including hydrodynamic and magnetic bearings are provided for a rotary pump as alternatives to mechanical contact bearings. In one embodiment, a pump apparatus includes a pump housing defining a pumping chamber. The housing has a spindle extending into the pumping chamber. A spindle magnet assembly includes first and second magnets disposed within the spindle. The first and second magnets are arranged proximate each other with their respective magnetic vectors opposing each other. The lack of mechanical contact bearings enables longer life pump operation and less damage to working fluids such as blood.

Abstract: Additional lightning protection system for intermediate wind turbine blade joints comprises a metal fairing that covers the blade connector elements while shielding and protecting the internal connector elements from getting hit by lightning.

Abstract: A rotary blood pump includes a casing defining a pumping chamber. The pumping chamber has a blood inlet and a tangential blood outlet. One or more motor stators are provided outside of the pumping chamber. A rotatable impeller is within the pumping chamber and is adapted to cause blood entering the pumping chamber to move to the blood outlet. The impeller has one or more magnetic regions. The impeller is radially constrained in rotation by magnetic coupling to one or more motor stators and is axially constrained in rotation by one or more hydrodynamic thrust bearing surfaces on the impeller.

Abstract: A pump and a method for operating a pump is proposed for mounting an impeller, which is inexpensive, free from contact and wear and thus extremely permanent. For this the invention uses a combination of permanent magnetic bearings and flow-mechanical bearings. The mounting is thus based on purely passive elements without using actively controlled and/or regulated elements.

Abstract: A rotary blood pump includes a casing defining a pumping chamber. The pumping chamber has a blood inlet and a tangential blood outlet. One or more motor stators are provided outside of the pumping chamber. A rotatable impeller is within the pumping chamber and is adapted to cause blood entering the pumping chamber to move to the blood outlet. The impeller has one or more magnetic regions. The impeller is radially constrained in rotation by magnetic coupling to one or more motor stators and is axially constrained in rotation by one or more hydrodynamic thrust bearing surfaces on the impeller.

Abstract: The catheter device comprises a drive shaft connected to a motor, and a rotor mounted on the drive shaft at the distal end section. The rotor has a frame structure which is formed by a screw-like boundary frame and rotor struts extending radially inwards from the boundary frame. The rotor struts are fastened to the drive shaft by their ends opposite the boundary frame. Between the boundary frame and the drive shaft extends an elastic covering. The frame structure is made of an elastic material such that, after forced compression, the rotor unfolds automatically.

Abstract: An impeller includes a hub, and a plurality of blades supported by the hub, the blades being arranged in at least two blade rows. The impeller has a deployed configuration in which the blades extend away from the hub, and a stored configuration in which at least one of the blades is radially compressed, for example by folding the blade towards the hub. The impeller may also have an operational configuration in which at least some of the blades are deformed from the deployed configuration upon rotation of the impeller when in the deployed configuration. The outer edge of one or more blades may have a winglet, and the base of the blades may have an associated indentation to facilitate folding of the blades.

Abstract: A pump assembly 1, 33, 200 adapted for continuous flow pumping of blood. In a particular from the pump 1, 200 is a centrifugal pump wherein the impeller 100, 204 is entirely sealed within the pump housing 2, 201 and is exclusively hydrodynamically suspended therein as the impeller rotates within the fluid 105 urged by electromagnetic means external to the pump cavity 106, 203. Hydrodynamic suspension is assisted by the impeller 100, 204 having deformities therein such as blades 8 with surfaces tapered from the leading edges 102, 223 to the trailing edges 103, 224 of bottom and top edges 221, 222 thereof.

Abstract: A physiologic control system and method for controlling a blood pump system such as a VAD system. The pump system includes, for example, a blood pump and a controller for controlling the pump. The system may further include a flow measurement device. A desired peak to peak flow amplitude is determined, and then adjusted in response to various system parameters either manually or automatically by the system.

Abstract: A sensorless magnetic bearing type blood pump apparatus includes a blood pump and a control mechanism. The blood pump has electromagnets for rotating a rotating body in a non-contact condition, and a hydrodynamic bearing section for rotating the rotating body in a non-contact condition when operation of the electromagnets is stopped. The apparatus is devoid of any sensors for determining the position of the rotating body. The control mechanism includes a pulse width modulation type electromagnet driving unit, a carrier component measuring unit for measuring carrier components of voltage and current in the driving unit, a modulation factor calculating unit which calculates a modulation factor using the carrier wave data, and a bearing mode changing-over mechanism for effecting change-over from the magnetic bearing mode to the hydrodynamic bearing mode when the calculated modulation factor is outside a predetermined range and for returning to the magnetic bearing mode after the change-over.

Abstract: A rotary blood pump may include one or more motor stators overlying exterior surfaces of a wall defining a pumping chamber. A rotatable impeller within the pumping chamber may have a hydrodynamic thrust bearing surface adapted to constrain a position of the impeller along an axis of rotation relative to the wall when the impeller is rotating about the axis of rotation. The impeller position may then be constrained without requiring a constant polarity magnetic force to be applied in the axial direction from a fixed position of the housing.

Abstract: A disposable centrifugal blood pump with magnetic coupling provides a centrifugal blood pump with magnetic coupling which is simple in structure of disposalable parts with low cost. Therefore, a housing as the disposable part includes a rotor having pole faces extending on the outer-peripheral surface and projecting inward from the inner-peripheral surface and an impeller attached to the rotor, and a stator as a reusable part includes three or more electromagnets for electromagnetic coupling for forming a magnetic coupling between the stator and the rotor, a torque transmission disk formed by sandwiching a ring-shaped permanent magnet between two upper and lower ring members and having pole faces corresponding to the pole faces projecting from the inner-peripheral surface of the rotor formed to project for generating a magnetic coupling between stator and rotor, a motor for rotating the torque transmission disk, and a displacement gauge for measuring displacement of the rotor.

Abstract: A pump assembly adapted for continuous flow pumping of blood. In a particular form the pump is a centrifugal pump wherein the impeller is entirely sealed within the pump housing and is hydrodynamically suspended therein as the impeller rotates within the fluid urged by electromagnetic means external to the pump cavity. Hydrodynamic suspension is assisted by the impeller having deformities therein such as blades with surfaces tapered from the leading edges to the trailing edges of bottom and top edges thereof.

Abstract: A rotary blood pump includes a casing defining a pumping chamber. The pumping chamber has a blood inlet and a tangential blood outlet. One or more motor stators are provided outside of the pumping chamber. A rotatable impeller is within the pumping chamber and is adapted to cause blood entering the pumping chamber to move to the blood outlet. The impeller has one or more magnetic regions. The impeller is radially constrained in rotation by magnetic coupling to one or more motor stators and is axially constrained in rotation by one or more hydrodynamic thrust bearing surfaces on the impeller.

Abstract: A rotary blood pump includes a casing defining a pumping chamber. The pumping chamber has a blood inlet and a tangential blood outlet. One or more motor stators are provided outside of the pumping chamber. A rotatable impeller is within the pumping chamber and is adapted to cause blood entering the pumping chamber to move to the blood outlet. The impeller has one or more magnetic regions. The impeller is radially constrained in rotation by magnetic coupling to one or more motor stators and is axially constrained in rotation by one or more hydrodynamic thrust bearing surfaces on the impeller.

Abstract: An impeller includes a hub, and a plurality of blades supported by the hub, the blades being arranged in at least two blade rows. The impeller has a deployed configuration in which the blades extend away from the hub, and a stored configuration in which at least one of the blades is radially compressed, for example by folding the blade towards the hub. The impeller may also have an operational configuration in which at least some of the blades are deformed from the deployed configuration upon rotation of the impeller when in the deployed configuration. The outer edge of one or more blades may have a winglet, and the base of the blades may have an associated indentation to facilitate folding of the blades.

Abstract: Various “contactless” bearing mechanisms including hydrodynamic and magnetic bearings are provided for a rotary pump as alternatives to mechanical contact bearings. In one embodiment, a pump apparatus includes a pump housing defining a pumping chamber. The housing has a spindle extending into the pumping chamber. A spindle magnet assembly includes first and second magnets disposed within the spindle. The first and second magnets are arranged proximate each other with their respective magnetic vectors opposing each other. The lack of mechanical contact bearings enables longer life pump operation and less damage to working fluids such as blood.

Abstract: Various “contactless” bearing mechanisms including hydrodynamic and magnetic bearings are provided for a rotary pump as alternatives to mechanical contact bearings. In one embodiment, a pump apparatus includes a pump housing defining a pumping chamber. The housing has a spindle extending into the pumping chamber. A spindle magnet assembly includes first and second magnets disposed within the spindle. The first and second magnets are arranged proximate each other with their respective magnetic vectors opposing each other. The lack of mechanical contact bearings enables longer life pump operation and less damage to working fluids such as blood.

Abstract: An improved intravascular blood pump and related methods involving the broad inventive concept of equipping the intravascular blood pump with guiding features such that the intravascular blood pump can be selectively positioned at a predetermined location within the circulatory system of a patient.

Abstract: Methods for determining a viscosity of a fluid passing through a fluid pump are disclosed. An amount of energy associated with axially moving a rotor may be determined and correlated to a viscosity of fluid interacting therewith. For example, energy associated with a response of a suspended rotor may be determined. The amount of energy may be correlated with a viscosity of the fluid interacting with the rotor. The rotor may be initially unsuspended and an amount of energy associated with suspending the rotor may be determined and correlated with a viscosity of fluid interacting with the rotor. In another method, subsequent to suspending a rotor, the rotor may be unsuspended and an energy response of the rotor may be quantified to determine a viscosity of fluid passing through the pump. Systems for determining a viscosity of a fluid are also disclosed.

Abstract: A rotary blood pump is provided which includes a pump housing and a rotor mounted for rotation with the housing. The rotor has an impeller. A rotor motor is provided including a plurality of permanent magnets carried by the impeller. A first motor stator is positioned on one side of the impeller and a second motor stator is positioned on an opposite side of the impeller. The motor stators each include a plurality of electrically conductive coils and pole pieces located within the housing. A plurality of wedge-shaped hydrodynamic thrust bearings are located outside of the axis of the rotor. During rotation of the impeller, the hydrodynamic bearings are separated from the housing by a fluid film and are not in direct mechanical contact with the housing.

Abstract: The water pump comprises: a body, a rotating device, a driving device, an upper cover and a bottom cover. A lower contacting element is mounted below a bearing, and is capable of contacting a bottom end of a shaft. The upper cover has an upper contacting element being capable of contacting a top end of the shaft. When the rotating device rotates, the top end of the shaft touches the upper contacting element in one-point way to avoid the problem of rubbing the blades of the rotating device and the upper cover. Besides, the shaft, the bearing, the upper contacting element and the lower contacting element are made of a waterproof and rustproof material with well wear character to absorb the water or the cooling liquid which can be a lubrication to reduce the wear to extend the life of the above elements.

Abstract: A pump assembly 1, 33, 200 adapted for continuous flow pumping of blood. In a particular form the pump 1, 200 is a centrifugal pump wherein the impeller 100, 204 is entirely sealed within the pump housing 2, 201 and is exclusively hydrodynamically suspended therein as the impeller rotates within the fluid 105 urged by electromagnetic means external to the pump cavity 106, 203. Hydrodynamic suspension is assisted by the impeller 100, 204 having deformities therein such as blades 8 with surfaces tapered from the leading edges 102, 223 to the trailing edges 103, 224 of bottom and top edges 221, 222 thereof.

Abstract: A blood pump system includes a blood pump having a motor with a rotor and a stator. The stator has a plurality of stator windings situated therein. A motor controller is coupled to the motor, and a processor has inputs coupled to the motor controller for receiving a time continuous signal from the pump. The processor is programmed to transform the time continuous signal to the frequency domain, and control the pump and detect excess suction in response to the time continuous signal in the frequency domain.

Abstract: A blood pump including a ultrasonic sensor mounted in or on a blood contacting surface of said blood pump. The ultrasonic sensor measures blood velocity and reports information to a blood pump controller and wherein the ultrasonic sensor is directed to measure blood velocity in an inflow cannula connected to the blood pump.

Abstract: A control system for a continuous flow rotary blood pump is provided. A normal operating range of the blood pump is established. The normal operating range may comprise a normal pump flow range and a normal pressure head range. A target rotational speed of the pump is set in accordance with the normal operating range. A current operating condition of the blood pump is determined. The current operating condition may comprise a current pump flow, a current pressure head, and a current rotational speed of the pump. The current operating condition is compared with the normal operating range. An appropriate control algorithm is selected from a plurality of available control algorithms based on the comparison. The target rotational speed of the pump is adjusted using the selected control algorithm to maintain or recover the normal operating range.

Abstract: A centrifugal pump includes a system that removes gas that accumulates along the axis of rotation of the shaft and/or impeller of the pump. One or more vent inlets are placed in the region where the gas accumulates and a suction device draws the accumulated gas through the vent inlets and a vent out of the centrifugal blood pump.

Abstract: A pump which is bladeless, and uses a substantially cylindrical outer cylinder to rotate inside a ridged inner chamber.

Abstract: A surgical pump suitable for bodily fluids, normally blood, usable in the course of surgical interventions as an alternative to the traditional CPB (cardio pulmonary bypass) making use of external blood pumps. It consists of an intake cannula (20) which is inserted with its first (distal) end in a first vessel, an outflow cannula (30) coaxial for some length with, and larger than the first cannula, which is inserted with its first (distal) end in a second vessel, both second ends of the coaxial cannulas being connected with a pump housing (52) having an inlet (62) for the inner cannula and outflow windows (64) for the outer cannula, a rotor impeller (70) housed in the housing and connected with an electric motor (80) rotating coaxially below the pump housing, the housing having inner (56) and outer (59) passageways which allow inflow, change of flow direction (reversal) and outflow of the fluid, thus producing two coaxial counter flowing flows in the coaxial cannulas.

Abstract: A pump assembly 1, 33, 200 adapted for continuous flow pumping of blood. In a particular form the pump 1, 200 is a centrifugal pump wherein the impeller 100, 204 is entirely sealed within the pump housing 2, 201 and is exclusively hydrodynamically suspended therein as the impeller rotates within the fluid 105 urged by electromagnetic means external to the pump cavity 106, 203. Hydrodynamic suspension is assisted by the impeller 100, 204 having deformities therein such as blades 8 with surfaces tapered from the leading edges 102, 223 to the trailing edges 103, 224 of bottom and top edges 221, 222 thereof.

Abstract: The blood pump of the present invention comprises: a first casing (1), its rim forming an opening; a second casing (2) having an inlet opening at the top and an outlet opening at an arbitrary position; a pump base part (5) attached to the first and second casings to partition them, its one side facing and covering the rim of the first casing, and the other side facing the base rim of the second casing; a drive part (7) housed inside the first casing driving a rotation shaft with a boss on the tip going roughly through the middle of the pump base part; a plurality of impellers (11) extending in radial direction from the outer periphery of the boss; and a pump part (3) constituted by the concurrence of the plurality of impellers and the second casing, wherein the impellers' boss attachment parts are shifted forward towards the inlet opening. wherein one part is cut out in each of the plurality of impellers' surfaces to form a window opening part (13).

Abstract: A minimal intrusive cardiac support apparatus is disclosed which requires only one incision into a main blood vessel or heart chamber. The apparatus includes a pair of generally coaxial and slideably arranged cannulae (one inner and one outer) communicatively coupled to a blood pump for providing right-heart and/or left-heart cardiac support during cardiac surgery. Optional balloons may be mounted on the outside of the inner and outer conduits which can be selectively inflated to seal off the sides surrounding vessel or to deliver cooling fluid or medication to the surrounding tissue. Using the apparatus, a method of pumping blood through the body is also disclosed.

Abstract: An artificial heart pump includes a casing (4, 15) having a blood inflow port (5) in its upper part, a blood outflow port (6) in its side surface part and a plurality of electromagnets (22) on its inner peripheral surface; a fixed shaft (17) projecting from the bottom surface of the casing and having thrust receptacles (18, 16) at its upper and lower end parts (12, 10), respectively; an impeller section (2) having a blood inflow section (3) in its center part and a blood outflow section (9) in its side surface part; an impeller support member (7) supporting the impeller section from below and having on its outer peripheral surface a plurality of permanent magnets (2) and in its center a hole part fitted on the fixed shaft to rotatably support the impeller section within the casing; a radial hydrodynamic bearing part formed between the inner peripheral surface of the hole part of the impeller support member and the outer peripheral surface of the fixed shaft; and thrust hydrodynamic bearings formed between the

Abstract: A control system for a continuous flow rotary blood pump is provided. A normal operating range of the blood pump is established. The normal operating range may comprise a normal pump flow range and a normal pressure head range. A target rotational speed of the pump is set in accordance with the normal operating range. A current operating condition of the blood pump is determined. The current operating condition may comprise a current pump flow, a current pressure head, and a current rotational speed of the pump. The current operating condition is compared with the normal operating range. An appropriate control algorithm is selected from a plurality of available control algorithms based on the comparison. The target rotational speed of the pump is adjusted using the selected control algorithm to maintain or recover the normal operating range.

Abstract: The blood pump according to the present invention comprises a casing having a blood inlet and a blood outlet, and an impeller for circulating blood by rotating inside the casing, wherein both the casing's and the impeller's surfaces in contact with blood are formed of a biocompatible metal, and onto the surfaces in contact with blood a coating film of a hemocompatible material comprising a phospholipid polymer is formed. According to the present invention, the blood pump effectively suppresses the development of thrombi without activating blood coagulation factors such as thrombocites (blood platelets) in the blood, thanks to a coating film of a hemocompatible material made of a phospholipid polymer being formed onto the surfaces in contact with blood of the casing and the impeller composing the main part of the blood pump.

Abstract: A blood pump having rotor and/or stator touch down zones to prevent pump failure or hemolysis which can occur if the rotor comes into contact with the stator due to power failure or mechanical shock. The touch down zones can include forming, or coating, portions of adjacent surfaces of the stator and rotor which can come into contact if a rotor touch down occurs. The materials used to form or coat the touch down zones can have properties which ensure that no consequential damage to the contacting surfaces occurs.

Abstract: The invention concerns a blood pump, in particular a ventricular cardiac support pump, with formed in a pump housing a blood chamber which is designed to hold a rotor rotatable about a rotor axis and at opposite ends in sections forms an inlet connectable with an inlet cannula, where an outlet from the blood chamber connectable with an outlet cannula extends in a direction perpendicular to the rotor axis, and where the rotor axis at its ends is mounted rotatably in mechanically active bearings provided in the area of the inlet concerned and connected with the pump housing.

Abstract: A two-chambered centrifugal blood pump for pumping biological fluids such as blood. One chamber is for pumping blood through the natural lungs, and a second chamber is for pumping blood through the remainder of the body. Each chamber has it's own inlet and outlet ports for attachment of tubing and cannulae. A small, adjustable clamp may alternatively be provided if minor adjustments of pressure to both the pulmonary and systemic circuits is required.

Abstract: The invention provides a device for the axial delivery of fluidal mediums, which outer diameter is not or only insignificantly larger than the diameter of the fluid carrying pipe, which reduces to a large extent a shearing and vortexing of the fluid. A device for the axial delivery of fluidal mediums, having a tubular hollow body arrangement, in which delivery area, an impeller (9) with a blading, which can be rotated, is arranged and also has a fluid directional means. A motor (2), at least one impeller (9) which can be rotated, and at least one motor mounting (14) are arranged in a tubular hollow body (1) of the hollow body arrangement. The impeller (9) is connected axially force-fittingly and/or form-fittingly to the motor (2).

Abstract: In a centrifugal flow blood pump, usable in left ventricular assist applications, blood is pumped from an inlet (16) to an outlet (22) by a primary impeller (18). A portion of the blood that enters the pump follows a secondary channel (24) where a secondary impeller (70) routes the blood to lubricate a bearing between an impeller assembly (14) and a post formed by a component of the pump housing. The unique shape of the secondary impeller (70) prevents blood stagnation and provides for a well-washed fluid bearing.

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: A pump assembly 1, 33, 200 adapted for continuous flow pumping of blood. In a particular form the pump 1, 200 is a centrifugal pump wherein the impeller 100, 204 is entirely sealed within the pump housing 2, 201 and is exclusively hydrodynamically suspended therein as the impeller rotates within the fluid 105 urged by electromagnetic means external to the pump cavity 106, 203. Hydrodynamic suspension is assisted by the impeller 100, 204 having deformities therein such as blades 8 with surfaces tapered from the leading edges 102, 223 to the trailing edges 103, 224 of bottom and top edges 221, 222 thereof.

Abstract: An impeller has one surface with a soft magnetic member arranged closer to an inner diameter thereof, opposite an electromagnet, the impeller is provided with a permanent magnet arranged closer to an outer diameter thereof, opposite a permanent magnet of a rotor, and the impeller has the other surface provided with a ferromagnetic body, opposite a permanent magnet of a casing, thereby magnetically levitating the impeller, and allowing a motor stator to rotate a motor rotor to rotate the impeller.