Patent ID: 6716157
Filing Date: 2004-04-06
Classification: A61M

Abstract:
A blood pump for human implantation 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 and defining fluid gaps between said rotor axial ends and said magnetic suspension means and substantially maintaining the stability of said rotor so that said rotor axis remains substantially coextensive with said pump axis during operation; 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, including said rotor axis defining at least one conduit proximate said rotor axis and extending the length of said rotor axis for connecting said gaps to enable blood flow to be conducted therebetween.