Magnetically-levitated blood pump with optimization method enabling miniaturization

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-2016184499-A1
Application number	US-201615064960-A
Country	US
Kind code	A1
Filing date	Mar 9, 2016
Priority date	Sep 26, 2008
Publication date	Jun 30, 2016
Grant date	—

Abstract

A magnetically-levitated blood pump with an optimization method that enables miniaturization and supercritical operation. The blood pump includes an optimized annular blood gap that increases blood flow and also provides a reduction in bearing stiffness among the permanent magnet bearings. Sensors are configured and placed optimally to provide space savings for the motor and magnet sections of the blood pump. Rotor mass is increased by providing permanent magnet placement deep within the rotor enabled by a draw rod configuration.

First claim

1 . (canceled)

2 . A blood pump, comprising:
an annular flow path defined between an inner surface of a housing and an outer surface of a rotor; an inflow end of the flow path providing for entry of blood through an inflow conduit; an outflow end of the flow path providing for exit of said blood through an outflow conduit; and the rotor including an inflow element having at least one blade, the inflow element forming a flow path divergence, an outflow element on an outflow end forming a flow path convergence, and a body extending between the inflow element and the outflow element, the inflow element, outflow element and body connected to one another by a shaft.

3 . The pump of claim 2 , wherein the inflow element is positioned at least partially in the inlet conduit.

4 . The pump of claim 3 , wherein the at least one blade of the inflow element is at least partially positioned in the inlet conduit.

5 . The pump of claim 2 , wherein the outflow element is positioned at least partially in the outflow conduit.

6 . The pump of claim 1 , wherein the flow path divergence directs the blood flow from the inlet conduit to the annular flow path, and the flow path convergence directs the blood flow from the annular flow path to the outflow conduit.

7 . The pump of claim 1 , wherein the annular flow path over the inflow element, body and outflow element allows for minimal blood damage or thrombus formation.

8 . The pump of claim 1 , wherein a width of the annular flow path is approximately equivalent to a width of the inflow and outflow conduits.

9 . A blood pump, comprising:
an annular flow path defined between an inner surface of a housing and an outer surface of a rotor; an inflow end of the flow path providing for entry of blood through an inlet conduit; an outflow end of the flow path providing for exit of said blood through an outflow conduit; and the rotor including an inflow element having at least one blade, the inflow element forming a flow path divergence, and a body extending from the inflow element, wherein the annular flow path provides for the blood pump to be adapted for miniaturization and for minimally-invasive implantation.

10 . The pump of claim 9 , wherein the rotor further comprises an outflow element on an outflow end forming a flow path convergence.

11 . The pump of claim 10 , wherein the inflow element, outflow element and body are connected to one another by a shaft.

12 . The pump of claim 9 , wherein the inflow element and body are connected to one another by a shaft.

13 . The pump of claim 9 , wherein the rotor is adapted for supercritical operation, such supercritical operation including a speed of the rotor of 15,000 RPM or more.

14 . The pump of claim 9 , wherein a ratio of a width of the annular flow path to a rotor diameter is greater than 1/10.

15 . The pump of claim 14 , wherein said ratio is within a range from 1/10 to 1/5.4.

16 . The pump of claim 9 , wherein the housing includes stationary blades for directing said outflow of said blood to the outflow conduit.

17 . The pump of claim 9 , further comprising an outer housing cover for encapsulating a stator, the outer housing having a dome providing space for electrical connections to and from the pump.

Assignees

• Ricci Michael R
• Antaki James F
• Verkaik Josiah E
• Paden David B
• Snyder Shaun T
• Paden Bradley E
• Wu Jingchun
• Worldheart Corp
• Univ Carnegie Mellon

Inventors

• Ricci Michael R
• Antaki James F
• Verkaik Josiah E
• Paden David B
• Snyder Shaun T
• Paden Bradley E
• Wu Jingchun

Classifications

• F16C2316/18

  Pumps for pumping blood · CPC title

• F16C32/0448

  by using the electromagnet itself as sensor, e.g. sensorless magnetic bearings · CPC title

• Y10T29/49012

  Rotor · CPC title

• A61M1/122

  Human Necessities · mapped topic

• A61M1/1015 Primary

  Human Necessities · mapped topic