Patent ID: 6293901
Filing Date: 2001-09-25
Classification: A61M,F04D,F16C

Abstract:
A blood pump apparatus implantable in a patient comprising:a. a stator member;b. a rotor member disposed adjacent said stator member for rotation relative thereto;c. a magnetic suspension having a stator magnet portion carried by said stator member and a rotor magnet portion carried by said rotor member, said stator and rotor magnet portions cooperating to magnetically support said rotor member radially such that an annular magnetic suspension gap is created between said rotor member and said stator member;d. at least one of said stator magnet portion and said rotor magnet portion movable in an axial direction with respect to the member which carries said magnet portion;e. an axial position actuator engaged with said movable one of said stator magnet portion and said rotor magnet portion, said axial position actuator controllable to move said movable one of said stator magnet portion and said rotor magnet portion relative to the member which carries said magnet portion to adjust axial alignment between said stator and rotor magnet portions; andf. a magnetic drive having a stator motor portion carried by said stator member and a rotor motor portion carried by said rotor member, said stator motor portion and said rotor motor portion cooperating to magnetically rotate said rotor member relative to said stator member to pump blood.