Patent ID: 6093001
Filing Date: 2000-07-25
Classification: A61M,F04D,H01L,Y10S

Abstract:
A blood pump for pumping blood that prevents coagulation of blood flowing through the pump by maintaining the blood flowing through the pump below a threshold temperature at which the blood coagulates, comprising:(a) a housing that has an inlet and an outlet;(b) a stator, disposed within and attached to the housing by a plurality of stator blades extending from the stator to the housing, a blood flow path being defined between the stator and the housing and between each of the stator blades,(c) a rotor, disposed within the housing between the inlet and the outlet, and having an end that is coupled to the stator by a mechanical bearing that generates heat during operation of the pump, the mechanical bearing comprising a first bearing gap, disposed between the mechanical bearing and the rotor, so that blood can flow through the first bearing gap and lubricate the bearing;(d) a mechanism that imparts rotational movement to the rotor; and(e) at least one electronic component, disposed within the stator proximal to the mechanical bearing, and wherein during operation of the pump the electronic component draws heat from (i) the rotor; (ii) the mechanical bearing, and (iii) the blood flowing proximal to the mechanical bearing and through the first bearing gap and the blood flowing proximal to the rotor, and transfers heat, via conductive heat transfer, to the stator and the housing, the stator and the housing transferring heat via advective convection to the blood flowing along the flow path and thereby maintaining the temperature of the blood below the threshold temperature and preventing coagulation of the blood.