Intravascular blood pump

US6176848A · kind A · utility

Assignee

• Impella Cardiotechnik AG · DE

Inventors

• Guenter Rau · Aachen, DE
• Helmut Reul · St. Blasien, DE
• Thorsten Siess · Aachen, DE

Key dates

• Filing date: Oct 5, 1998
• Grant date: Jan 23, 2001
• Expiry date: Oct 5, 2018

Classification

• Technology area (CPC A): Human Necessities
• CPC primary: A61M60/857
• WIPO field: Medical technology
• WIPO sector: Instruments

Abstract

A blood pump having a motor housing and a pump housing which are rigidly connected to one another in an axially spaced relationship. Both housings are of substantially the same diameter and are sized to enable the pump to be introduced via catheter through the body's blood-vessel system. The impeller is mounted in the pump housing on a longitudinally and radially acting bearing designed as a point-support bearing. To avoid oscillation of the impeller, it is fitted with an alignment device which may have a hydrodynamic or mechanical action. Rotation of the motor is transferred to the impeller via a magnetic coupling.