BLOOD PUMP WITH FRUSTO-CONICAL BEARING STRUCTURE

摘要

The blood pump comprises a stationary housing structure and a rotative impeller. The stationary housing structure has a proximal end provided with an inlet, a distal end provided with an outlet, and an impeller housing. The rotative impeller is mounted within the stationary housing structure to circulate blood in a blood flow direction generally extending from the proximal end to the distal end. The rotative impeller also includes an impeller blade structure mounted in the impeller housing, and having a first annular face tapered in a direction opposite the blood flow direction and a second annular face downstream from the first annular face and tapered in the direction of the blood flow. The impeller housing includes a first annular face tapered in a direction opposite the blood flow direction and facing the first annular face of the impeller blade structure; and a second annular face tapered in the direction of the blood flow and facing the second annular face of the impeller blade structure, the tapered, annular faces being so shaped and dimensioned as to keep the area through which blood flows constant.