Expandable impeller pump

US8992163B2 · kind B2 · utility

Assignees

• Thoratec Corporation · US
• The Penn State Research Foundation · US

Inventors

• Mark W. McBride · Bellefonte, US
• Thomas M. Mallison · State College, US
• Gregory P. Dillon · State College, US
• Robert L. Campbell · Port Matilda, US
• David A. Boger · Benson East, US
• Stephen A. Hambric · State College, US
• Robert F. Kunz · State College, US
• James P. Runt · State College, US
• Justin M. Walsh · Spring Mills, US
• Boris Leschinsky · Mahwah, US

Key dates

• Filing date: Jan 11, 2013
• Grant date: Mar 31, 2015
• Expiry date: Jan 11, 2033

Classification

• Technology area (CPC Y): Emerging Cross-Sectional Technologies
• CPC primary: Y10T29/49229
• WIPO field: Engines, pumps, turbines
• WIPO sector: Mechanical engineering

Abstract

An impeller includes a hub, and a plurality of blades supported by the hub, the blades being arranged in at least two blade rows. The impeller has a deployed configuration in which the blades extend away from the hub, and a stored configuration in which at least one of the blades is radially compressed, for example by folding the blade towards the hub. The impeller may also have an operational configuration in which at least some of the blades are deformed from the deployed configuration upon rotation of the impeller when in the deployed configuration. The outer edge of one or more blades may have a winglet, and the base of the blades may have an associated indentation to facilitate folding of the blades.