Abstract: This invention relates to rotary pumps adapted, but not exclusively, for use as artificial hearts or ventricular assist devices and, in particular, discloses in preferred forms a seal-less shaft-less pump featuring open or closed (shrouded) impeller blades with the edges of the blades used as hydrodynamic thrust bearings and with electromagnetic torque provided by the interaction between magnets embedded in the blades and a rotating current pattern generated in coils fixed relative to the pump housing.

Abstract: An apparatus and method for a centrifugal fluid pump for pumping sensitive biological fluids, which includes (i) an integral impeller and rotor which is entirely supported by an integral combination of permanent magnets and electromagnetic bearings and rotated by an integral motor, (ii) a pump housing and arcuate passages for fluid flow and containment, (iii) a brushless driving motor embedded and integral with the pump housing, (iv) a power supply, and (v) specific electronic sensing of impeller position, velocity or acceleration using a self-sensing method and physiological control algorithm for motor speed and pump performance based upon input from the electromagnetic bearing currents and motor back emf—all fitly joined together to provide efficient, durable and low maintenance pump operation. A specially designed impeller and pump housing provide the mechanism for transport and delivery of fluid through the pump to a pump output port with reduced fluid turbulence.

Abstract: The invention relates to a pump for moving blood and other shear-sensitive with a rotor journaled hydraulically and, if necessary, magnetically in a housing and where the rotor (1) has flow-control surfaces (2, 4, 35, 33, 37, 41) for producing centrifugal flow components (3) and flow components (4) directed against the housing (30), the centrifugal flow components (3) serving mainly for producing the externally effective throughput and the flow components (5) directed against the housing serving mainly for contact-free journaling and stabilizing of the rotor in the housing.

Abstract: A rotary blood pump comprises a housing and a rotor. The housing includes a blood inlet, a blood outlet, a blood flow conduit disposed between the blood inlet and the blood outlet, and a rotary bearing assembly disposed within and fixed to the housing. The rotor is rotatably disposed within the housing and includes one or more impellor blades disposed within the blood flow conduit for pumping blood through the conduit, and a shaft affixed to and rotating with the rotor. The shaft rotatably engages the bearing assembly to define an intersection between the rotor and the housing and to provide relative rotation between the rotor and the housing. In addition, the shaft further defines an axis of rotation for the rotor. In the rotary pump of the invention, at least one of the rotor and the housing defines a swirl region proximate to the intersection between the rotor and the housing.

Abstract: A pump for transferring fragile and aggressive fluids such as human blood, the pump comprising a housing with a sealed annular wall of uniform thickness forming a pumping chamber. The chamber is provided with inlet and outlet ports with a rotor being housed within the chamber coaxially of the housing. The housing includes opposed end cap portions with a cylindrical body portion interposed therebetween. The body portion includes first and second cylindrical segments with mating side walls adapted to be coupled together along an annular bonding seam, the arrangement providing for separation along the bonding seam to permit removal and reworking of the rotor for replacement in a fresh housing.

Abstract: There is provided a fluid pump wherein in a casing at a pump unit there is provided an impeller coupled with a rotor contactless and also supported contactless by a controlled magnetic bearing unit, and rotated by a motor to output a fluid, with a position detection unit, an electromagnet or a motor stator cooled by a fluid flowing through a pump chamber.

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: An artificial heart has a driving section, a nozzle section, a pump section for insertion into a ventricle of a human heart, and a sealing section forming a seal for a driving shaft extending from the driving section for driving the pump section. A sealing liquid chamber filled with a sealing liquid is formed around the driving shaft between the sealing mechanism and the driving section. The sealing liquid in the sealing liquid chamber maintains the sealing mechanism in a liquid-tight state and lubricates the sealing mechanism, whereby blood is prevented from entering the driving section. Even if blood happens to enter the driving section, the blood is mixed with the sealing liquid and does not coagulate. Thus, the operation of the artificial heart is not suppressed.

Abstract: A magnetically driven, axial flow pump comprises an electromagnetic unit arranged about the periphery of a pipe. A cylindrical rotor is accommodated within the pipe and is equipped with permanent magnets mounted on the periphery. A spiral, hollow vane is formed on an inner surface of the rotor by either casting or by cutting, such as with a NC machine, thus precluding the occurrence of gaps between the rotor and the vane. The lack of gaps within the pump makes the pump suitable for use as a 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: There is provided a magnetically levitated apparatus wherein an impeller has one side supported by an electromagnet and the other side supported and magnetically levitated by an attractive force created between a permanent magnet and a permanent magnet of a motor rotor rotated by a motor stator to rotate the impeller and a magnetic bearing sensor provides an output which is in turn rectified and thus shifted to have a gain adjusted and subsequently a notch filter removes a carrier wave frequency component used in the magnetic bearing sensor, to prevent a PID compensator from causing voltage saturation attributed to high frequency noise.

Abstract: A rotary pump for pumping fluids through a patient having a housing with an internal region, a stator member and an impeller positioned within the housing and having impeller blades, wherein the impeller is magnetically suspended and rotated, and wherein the geometric configuration of the rotary pump is sized and proportioned to minimize stagnant and traumatic fluid flow within the rotary pump. The plurality of magnetic impeller blades are preferably rare earth, high-energy-density magnets selected from the group consisting of samarium cobalt and neodymium-iron-boron alloy.

Abstract: A blood pump includes a centrifugal impeller for pumping blood and a volute member enclosing the centrifugal impeller within a volute chamber. A magnetic drive causes magnets embedded on the impeller to rotate the impeller. The centrifugal impeller and volute chamber are configured to provide a specific speed ratio (Ns) of between approximately 500 and 600 wherein Ns equals NQ0.5/H0.75, where: N=impeller rotative speed in revolutions per minute (RPM); Q=gallons per minute (GPM) of flow; and H=head rise in feet of blood. The impeller includes blades having a radial length to an axial width ratio that provides the specific speed. The configuration of the volute and impeller combination provides desired blood flow and pressure rise at low specific speed.

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 apparatus and method for a centrifugal fluid pump for pumping sensitive biological fluids, which includes (i) an integral impeller and rotor which is entirely supported by an integral combination of permanent magnets and electromagnetic bearings and rotated by an integral motor, (ii) a pump housing and arcuate passages for fluid flow and containment, (iii) a brushless driving motor embedded and integral with the pump housing, (iv) a power supply, and (v) specific electronic sensing of impeller position, velocity or acceleration using a self-sensing method and physiological control algorithm for motor speed and pump performance based upon input from the electromagnetic bearing currents and motor back emf—all fitly joined together to provide efficient, durable and low maintenance pump operation. A specially designed impeller and pump housing provide the mechanism for transport and delivery of fluid through the pump to a pump output port with reduced fluid turbulence.

Abstract: An inventive blood pump in accordance with this invention includes a housing that has inlet and outlet ports for receiving and discharging blood. A rotor is positioned in the housing's interior for pumping blood between the housing's inlet and outlet ports, with the rotor being capable of motion in three translational and three rotational axes. An assembly for magnetically suspending and rotating the rotor in a contact-free manner with respect to the housing includes only one electromagnetic bearing that actively controls motion of the rotor with respect to one axis selected from the rotor's three translational and three rotational axes, an electromagnetic motor that actively drives motion of the rotor with respect to one of its three rotational axes, and magnetic bearings for passively controlling motion of the rotor with respect to the remaining four of its translational and rotational axes. The inventive blood pump can also be incorporated into an artificial heart.

Abstract: An artificial heart has a driving section, a nozzle section, a pump section for insertion into a ventricle of a human heart, and a sealing section forming a seal for a driving shaft extending from the driving section for driving the pump section. A sealing liquid chamber filled with a sealing liquid is formed around the driving shaft between the sealing mechanism and the driving section. The sealing liquid in the sealing liquid chamber maintains the sealing mechanism in a liquid-tight state and lubricates the sealing mechanism, whereby blood is prevented from entering the driving section. Even if blood happens to enter the driving section, the blood is mixed with the sealing liquid and does not coagulate. Thus, the operation of the artificial heart is not suppressed.

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: 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.

Abstract: An artificial heart has a driving section, a nozzle section, a pump section for insertion into a ventricle of a human heart, and a sealing section forming a seal for a driving shaft extending from the driving section for driving the pump section. A sealing liquid chamber filled with a sealing liquid is formed around the driving shaft between the sealing mechanism and the driving section. The sealing liquid in the sealing liquid chamber maintains the sealing mechanism in a liquid-tight state and lubricates the sealing mechanism, whereby blood is prevented from entering the driving section. Even if blood happens to enter the driving section, the blood is mixed with the sealing liquid and does not coagulate. Thus, the operation of the artificial heart is not suppressed.

Abstract: A blood pump preferably has a magnetically suspended rotor that rotates within a housing. The rotor may rotate about a stator disposed within the housing. Radial magnetic bearings may be defined within the stator and the rotor in order to suspend the rotor. The radial magnetic bearings may be passive magnetic bearings that include permanent magnets disposed within the stator and the rotor or active magnetic bearings. The pump may further include an axial magnetic bearing that may be either a passive or an active magnetic bearing. A motor that drives the rotor may be disposed within the housing in order to more easily dissipate heat generated by the motor. A primary flow path is defined between the rotor and the stator, and a secondary flow path is defined between the stator and the rotor. Preferably, a substantial majority of blood passes through the primary flow path.

Abstract: An apparatus and method for a centrifugal pump for pumping sensitive biological fluids which includes (i) an integral impeller and rotor which is electromagnetically supported and rotated, (ii) a pump housing and arcuate passages for fluid flow and containment, (iii) a brushless driving motor embedded and integral with the pump housing, (iv) a power supply, and (v) specific electronic sensing and control algorithms—all fitly joined together to provide efficient, durable and low maintenance pump operation. A specially designed impeller and pump housing provide the mechanism for transport and delivery of fluid through the pump to a pump output port with reduced fluid turbulence.

Abstract: An artificial heart has a driving section, a nozzle section, a pump section for insertion into a ventricle of a human heart, and a sealing section forming a seal for a driving shaft extending from the driving section for driving the pump section. A sealing liquid chamber filled with a sealing liquid is formed around the driving shaft between the sealing mechanism and the driving section. The sealing liquid in the sealing liquid chamber maintains the sealing mechanism in a liquid-tight state and lubricates the sealing mechanism, whereby blood is prevented from entering the driving section. Even if blood happens to enter the driving section, the blood is mixed with the sealing liquid and does not coagulate. Thus, the operation of the artificial heart is not suppressed.

Abstract: A biological fluid transport device comprises a cutwater at the junction of at least two blood flow paths. The cutwater is substantially straight, substantially vertical, or both. At least one of the fluid paths may be tubular, and in some embodiments all of the fluid paths are tubular. The shear sensitive fluid may be, without limitation, blood, blood-based combinations, cell culture media, cell suspensions, proteins, and microcapsule suspensions. The device may be part of an extracorporeal circuit (e.g., blood during heart-lung bypass procedures or blood processing), but it need not be. Preferred embodiments of the device include, without limitation, kinetic pumps, mass transfer devices, filters, reservoirs, and heat exchangers.

Abstract: A magnetically driven axial-flow pump comprising (i) an electromagnet unit 1 arranged about the periphery of a pipe “P”, (ii) a cylindrical rotor 5 accommodated in the pipe “P”, (iii) permanent magnets 6 mounted on the periphery of the rotor 5, and (iv) a spiral vane 7 formed on the inner surface of the rotor 5. A hollow is formed in the axial center portion of the vane 7. Because the rotor 5 and the vane 7 can be made as one piece with an NC machine, precluding the occurrence of gaps in the otherwise-inevitable joint between them, it is easy to make the rotor 5 and the vane 7. Because there are no gaps between the rotor 5 and the vane 7 as mentioned above and there is no object in contact with blood in the center portion of the vane, various germs do not enter blood, no thrombi are formed, blood tissues are not destroyed, and hence the pump is suitable as a blood pump.

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 continuous flow axial-flow pump for impelling a fluid under a continuous pattern without kinetic side effects to minimize and eliminate damage to fluid, the pump comprising two axial adjacent rotors rotating in opposite directions.

Abstract: A blood pump preferably has a magnetically suspended rotor that rotates within a housing. The rotor may rotate about a stator disposed within the housing. Radial magnetic bearings may be defined within the stator and the rotor in order to suspend the rotor. The radial magnetic bearings may be passive magnetic bearings that include permanent magnets disposed within the stator and the rotor or active magnetic bearings. The pump may further include an axial magnetic bearing that may be either a passive or an active magnetic bearing. A motor that drives the rotor may be disposed within the housing in order to more easily dissipate heat generated by the motor. A primary flow path is defined between the rotor and the stator, and a secondary flow path is defined between the stator and the rotor. Preferably, a substantial majority of blood passes through the primary flow path.

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: This invention relates to rotary pumps adapted, but not exclusively, for use as artificial hearts or ventricular assist devices and, in particular, discloses in preferred forms a seal-less shaft-less pump featuring open or closed (shrouded) impeller blades with the edges of the blades used as hydrodynamic thrust bearing and with electromagnetic torque provided by the interaction between magnets embedded in the blades and a rotating current pattern generated in coils fixed relative to the pump housing.

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: A pump for transferring fragile and aggressive fluids such as human blood and comprising a pumping chamber along with a pair of fluid inlet ports arranged in oppositely disposed relationship on the chamber, and at least one outlet port arranged transversely and medially of the inlet ports. A rotor assembly is positioned within the pumping chamber having a core in the form of a first surface of revolution and having a dual-conical configuration converging toward opposed polar end regions and with an axis of rotation extending between the polar regions. At least one shroud is provided spaced outwardly of the surface of the core, with medial vanes being positioned between the surface of the core and shroud, the shroud defining a second surface of revolution coaxially with the axis of the core. The rotor assembly includes magnets which are arranged at radially spaced locations and with a magnetic drive positioned to deliver rotational driving energy to the rotor.

Abstract: A blood pump comprises a drive portion (11) and a pump portion (12) prolongated by a flexible hose (13). Pressure sensors (60, 61) determine the differential pressure between the inlet side and the outlet side of the pump. The volume flow can be determined from the differential pressure in conjunction with the rotational speed. Further, the differential pressure may be used to find the correct position of the pump in the heart. As an alternative to measuring the differential pressure, the motor current consumed by the motor (21) is measured and the volume flow of the pump is calculated therefrom under consideration of the known rotational speed. The signal from the pressure measuring device or the motor current may be used to establish the correct position of the pump in the heart.

Abstract: A stand alone blood pump which can be used with different types of oxygenators or extra corporeal circuits during surgery. After use the pump is easily detachable from its drive motor to enable a new blood pump to be mounted for the next operation. The pump impeller includes vanes at the base which extend at an angle to the plane of rotation and smoothly merge along a common plane with a plurality of helical fingers respectively. The width of the helical fingers gradually diminishes from the vanes to their extremities which are angularly spaced from each other at the pump inlet. The helical fingers flow the blood helically about the impeller axis to the vanes which then centrifugally flow the blood to the pump outlet tangentially of the pump housing.

Abstract: The pump device comprises a first pump (10a) that may have its intake side inserted into the left ventricle (42) of the heart, while the delivery side is located in the aorta (40), and a second pump (10b) having its intake side arranged in the right atrium (43), whereas its delivery side is in the pulmonary artery (47). A common control unit drives both pumps in mutual dependance, the first pump (10a) taking the lead function, whereas the second pump (10b) pumps only about 90% of the volume flow of the first pump (10a). Pressure sensors at the pumps serve to determine the differential pressure between the intake side and the delivery side of a pump and to determine the volume flow. Both pumps are inserted into the heart without having to open the ventricles.

Abstract: A blood pump used for extra corporeal circulation, and more particularly, as a small turbo blood pump including a casing having an interior region, an aperture formed in an upper portion defining a blood inlet, and an aperture formed in a lower portion defining a blood outlet. An impeller is rotatably mounted within said casing interior region and includes a rotary shaft and at least one vane depending therefrom. The at least one vane has an upper radius adjacent the blood inlet that is less than a lower radius adjacent the blood outlet. The base of the at least one vane forms an exterior angle of less than 90.degree. with the axis of the rotary shaft. A driven magnet is mounted to the at least one vane. The impeller is rotationally driven by a non-contacting driving magnet that is exterior to the casing.

Abstract: When a current is set, a PI control portion performs proportional integration control, a power amplifying circuit performs power amplification, whereby a current flowing through a motor is controlled to have a constant value. Further, the changes of the number of rotation is positively feedback and the changes are added to the set current by an adder. Further, blood viscosity is detected by a viscosity detecting circuit, an amount of correction is calculated by a correcting amount operating circuit so that it becomes equal to a reference value, and the calculated correcting amount is added to the adder.

Abstract: A rotary pump having a housing defining a flow path, a stator attached to the housing, a rotor which contacts the stator and rotates thereabout, a motor for rotating the rotor and semiconductor-based electronic components which draws the heat created by the frictional contact between the stator and rotor away from blood flowing through the housing. The rotary pump can be a centrifugal pump having a housing with a base plate, a rotor with rotor blades and a stator wherein the base plate and the rotor are shaped and proportioned such that blood is prevented from stagnating/collecting between the rotor blades and base plate.

Abstract: An apparatus and method for a centrifugal fluid pump for pumping sensitive biological fluids, which includes (i) an integral impeller and rotor which is entirely supported by an integral combination of permanent magnets and electromagnetic bearings and rotated by an integral motor, (ii) a pump housing and arcuate passages for fluid flow and containment, (iii) a brushless driving motor embedded and integral with the pump housing, (iv) a power supply, and (v) specific electronic sensing of impeller position, velocity or acceleration using a self-sensing method and physiological control algorithm for motor speed and pump performance based upon input from the electromagnetic bearing currents and motor back emf--all fitly joined together to provide efficient, durable and low maintenance pump operation. A specially designed impeller and pump housing provide the mechanism for transport and delivery of fluid through the pump to a pump output port with reduced fluid turbulence.

Abstract: A centrifugal impeller-type pump for transporting blood has a new and improved design in the impeller, to allow for the elimination of stagnant flow areas, and a geometrical design that minimizes damage to the blood components. A system for controlling and stabilizing the speed of centrifugal-type pumps used in a human cardiovascular system is also provided. Further provided are methods of corrosion protection and enhancing thromboresistance, rejection of waste heat, and methods to connect the artificial heart to the cardiovascular system as a Left Ventricle Assist Device (LVAD) and as a Total Artificial Heart (TAH).

Abstract: A centrifugal fluid pump assembly includes a housing having fluid inlet and outlet ports and an impeller having magnetic pieces disposed therein and accommodated for rotation in the housing for feeding the fluid, typically blood by a centrifugal force developed during rotation. A rotational torque generating mechanism including a rotor having magnets for attracting the magnetic pieces in the impeller and a motor for rotating the rotor serves to impart a rotational torque to the impeller in a non-contact relationship for thereby rotating the impeller. The impeller has vanes which define radially outwardly extending fluid passages therebetween. The magnetic pieces are embedded in the vanes.

Abstract: An articulating motor stator assembly for use in a pump incorporates features that permit recycling of the motor stator when disposing of other parts of the pump. Such a stator assembly facilitates convenient manufacture, testing, and installation of the pump. For convenient installation, the motor stator assembly can incorporate a multi-part, annular housing that defines a central conduit to receive a motor rotor assembly. The multi-part housing of the motor stator assembly may be selectively repositioned between an open and closed configuration. In its open configuration a motor rotor assembly may be conveniently installed in the motor stator and when closed the motor stator will actuate the motor rotor assembly in order to operate a pump. The assembly thereby enables separate manufacture and shipment from a remote location. In addition, the assembly can be separately tested prior to installation. After pump use, the motor stator can be opened so as to remove the motor rotor assembly.

Abstract: An artificial heart pump includes a casing having a pump chamber inside the casing and a partition that closes, in a fluid-tight manner, the bottom portion of the pump chamber, an impeller disposed inside the pump chamber so that it is rotatable about the axis of rotation and including an impeller shaft portion having a shaft hollow part and an impeller portion having an impeller hollow part extending radially and communicating with the shaft hollow part, the shaft hollow part and the impeller hollow part constituting a blood flow channel, a magnetic supporter for rotatably supporting the impeller within the casing in a direction normal to the axis of rotation, a pivot bearing for rotatably supporting the impeller within the casing in a direction of the axis of rotation, a rotating device accommodated within the casing below the pump chamber for rotating the impeller, and a magnetic coupler for transmitting the rotating force of the rotating device to the impeller.

Abstract: A rotary pump for pumping fluids through a patient having a housing with an internal region, a stator member and an impeller positioned within the housing and having impeller blades, wherein the impeller is magnetically suspended and rotated, and wherein the geometric configuration of the rotary pump is sized and proportioned to minimize stagnant and traumatic fluid flow within the rotary pump. The plurality of magnetic impeller blades are preferably rare earth, high-energy-density magnets selected from the group consisting of samarium cobalt and neodymium-iron-boron alloy.

Abstract: An intravascular microaxial pump has an integrated configuration that enables both the drive unit as well as the pumping segment to be advanced through a patient's vasculature. The device includes elements that enhance pumping efficiency and performance while minimizing shear and cavitation. Cost reduction is achieved in the reusability of certain components while a manufacturing method reduces the labor involved in the pump's assembly.

Abstract: An axial-flow blood pump has a rotor suspended in ball-and-cup bearings which are blood-cooled but not actively blood-lubricated. The ball-and-cup structures are made of highly heat-conductive material and are in heat-transferring contact with heat-conductive stator blades that serve as heat sinks for the bearings. The ball-and-cup structures are radially much smaller than the stator blades. The ball-to-cup interface has so small a gap that the ball-to-cup structures present an essentially continuous surface to the blood flow.

Abstract: A centrifugal blood pump assembly according to one aspect of the invention includes a housing, an impeller adapted to rotate within the housing for feeding blood, an impeller position control device, and an impeller rotation torque generating device. The impeller rotates without contacting the inner surface of the housing when the position control device and torque generating device are operative. Even when the position control device is inoperative, operation of the torque generating device enables rotation of the impeller while a blood flowpath is defined between the surface of the impeller facing the torque generating device and the inner surface of the housing. A centrifugal blood pump assembly according to another aspect of the invention involves a pump including a housing having blood inlet and outlet ports and an impeller adapted to rotate within the housing for feeding blood.

Abstract: A blood pump that comprises a pump housing having a blood flow path therethrough, a blood inlet, and a blood outlet; a stator mounted to the pump housing, the stator having a stator field winding for producing a stator magnetic field; a flow straightener located within the pump housing, and comprising a flow straightener hub and at least one flow straightener blade attached to the flow straightener hub; a rotor mounted within the pump housing for rotation in response to the stator magnetic field, the rotor comprising an inducer and an impeller; the inducer being located downstream of the flow straightener, and comprising an inducer hub and at least one inducer blade attached to the inducer hub; the impeller being located downstream of the inducer, and comprising an impeller hub and at least one impeller blade attached to the impeller hub; and preferably also comprising a diffuser downstream of the impeller, the diffuser comprising a diffuser hub and at least one diffuser blade.

Abstract: A pump for transferring fragile and aggressive fluids such as human blood and comprising a pumping chamber along with a fluid inlet port disposed on the chamber, and one or more outlet ports arranged transversely and medially of the inlet ports. A shrouded rotor is positioned within the pumping chamber having a core of dual-conical configuration converging toward opposed polar end regions and with an axis of rotation extending between the polar regions. The shrouded rotor includes magnets which are arranged at radially spaced locations and with a magnetic drive positioned to deliver rotational driving energy to the rotor. The sole support for the rotor are the hydrodynamic forces acting upon the rotor during its operation, with the rotor body having a relative density of between 10% and 90% of the relative density of the fluid being pumped.

Abstract: A pump for transferring fragile and aggressive fluids such as human blood and comprising a pumping chamber along with a pair of fluid inlet ports arranged in oppositely disposed relationship on the chamber, and one or more outlet ports arranged transversely and medially of the inlet ports. A rotor is positioned within the pumping chamber having a dual-conical configuration converging toward opposed polar end regions and with an axis of rotation extending between the polar regions. The rotor includes a plurality of radial vanes mounted on the outer surface of the dual cones forming the dual-conical configuration, and with the radially outward tips of the vanes encapsulating permanent magnets, with the vanes and permanent magnets being arranged at equally radially spaced locations. A magnetic drive is positioned to deliver rotational driving energy to the magnets in the rotor.