Centrifugal blood pump for cardiac assist

摘要

A centrifugal blood pump and method of pumping blood is disclosed to provide assistance for a dysfunctional heart. The pump is provided with a magnetic drive system which permits a synchronous magnetic coupling with a separate power unit disposed immediately adjacent the pump housing. The pump has a single moving part which includes the combination of an impeller connected to a magnetic drive rotor. The impeller is of improved blade and hub design to automatically move blood, and minimize formation of blood clots and fibrous amalgamation in the region of blood flow. Further, the impeller blades are configured to extend almost completely across the bottom surface of the impeller hub to enhance efficiency and clot-free operation. The magnetic drive system floats on a fluid surface of saline solution, which hydrodynamically supports and lubricates the magnetic drive rotor contained in a compartment separate from the impeller and facilitates a prolonged period of service-free operation.