Blood pump having a magnetically suspended rotor

US6447266B2 · kind B2 · utility

Assignees

• UNIVERSITY OF PITTSBURGH · US
• The United States of America as represented by the United States National Aeronautics and Space Administration · US

Inventors

• James F. Antaki · Pittsburgh, US
• Bradley E. Paden · Lompoc, US
• Gregory Burgreen · Pittsburgh, US
• Nelson J. Groom · White Marsh, US

Key dates

• Filing date: Apr 24, 2001
• Grant date: Sep 10, 2002
• Expiry date: Apr 24, 2021

Classification

• Technology area (CPC Y): Emerging Cross-Sectional Technologies
• CPC primary: Y10S415/90
• WIPO field: Medical technology
• WIPO sector: Instruments

Abstract

A blood pump preferably has a magnetically suspended rotor that rotates within a housing. The rotor may rotate about a stator disposed within the housing. Radial magnetic bearings may be defined within the stator and the rotor in order to suspend the rotor. The radial magnetic bearings may be passive magnetic bearings that include permanent magnets disposed within the stator and the rotor or active magnetic bearings. The pump may further include an axial magnetic bearing that may be either a passive or an active magnetic bearing. A motor that drives the rotor may be disposed within the housing in order to more easily dissipate heat generated by the motor. A primary flow path is defined between the rotor and the stator, and a secondary flow path is defined between the stator and the rotor. Preferably, a substantial majority of blood passes through the primary flow path. The secondary flow path is large enough so that it provides adequate flushing of the secondary flow path while being small enough to permit efficient operation of the radial magnet bearings across the secondary flow path.