Patent ID: 6527699
Filing Date: 2003-03-04
Classification: A61M,F16C

Abstract:
A blood pump to propel blood therethrough, comprising:a pump housing defining a pump axis, and inlet and outlet openings at opposite axial ends of said pump housing; a rotor defining a rotor axis and opposing rotor axial ends; magnetic suspension means within said pump housing at said rotor axial ends for magnetically suspending said rotor without physically contacting said housing and defining fluid gaps between said rotor axial ends and said magnetic suspension means and substantially maintaining the radial stability of said rotor so that said rotor axis remains substantially coextensive with said pump axis during operation; control means for maintaining axial stability of said rotor so that said rotor may absorb eternally imposed axial loads and maintain said fluid gaps and axial separation between said rotor and said pump housing; impeller means on said rotor operative to draw blood into said inlet opening and expel the blood through said outlet opening with rotation of said rotor; drive means for rotating said rotor and impeller means thereby pumping blood; and blood washout means for continuously moving blood through said fluid gaps during rotation of said rotor to prevent formation of thrombus in said fluid gaps.