Patent ID: 8512012
Filing Date: 2013-08-20
Classification: A61M,F04D

Abstract:
1. A blood pump comprising: a pump housing including an axial inlet channel and an outlet channel; an impeller having an axis of rotation in the pump housing along an axial direction and including a central blade member located at the axis of rotation, an annular sleeve surrounding the central blade member, and a plurality of blades extending between the central blade member and the annular sleeve; a motor located at the axis of rotation within the pump housing so as to define a downstream bearing gap between the central blade member and the motor, the motor including a motor cover such that an annular flow-through channel is defined between the motor cover and the pump housing, the annular flow-through channel extending in the axial direction and surrounding the motor between the impeller and the outlet channel, wherein blood flowing in the axial direction through the annular flow-through channel contacts the motor cover and the pump housing, the motor operable to drive rotation of the impeller; a magnetic axial bearing including a rotor permanent magnet integrated in the annular sleeve and a stator permanent magnet positioned in the pump housing, the rotor permanent magnet and the stator permanent magnet each being magnetized in opposing axial directions; and a flow mechanical radial bearing including a bearing channel positioned between the annular sleeve and the housing wall such that the bearing channel is positioned between the rotor permanent magnet and the stator permanent magnet, whereby during operation, the magnetic axial bearing and the flow mechanical radial bearing support the impeller such that the impeller does not contact the pump housing or the motor.