A rotary blood pump and control system therefor

摘要

A pump assembly (1, 33, 200) adapted for continuous flow pumping of blood. In a particular form the pump (1, 200) is a centrifugal pump wherein the impeller (100, 204) is entirely sealed within the pump housing (2, 201) and is exclusively hydrodynamically suspended therein as the impeller rotates within the fluid (105) urged by electromagnetic means external to the pump cavity (106, 203). Hydrodynamic suspension is assisted by the impeller (100, 204) having deformities therein such as blades (8) with surfaces tapered from the leading edges (102, 223) to the trailing edges (103, 224) of bottom and top surfaces (221, 222) thereof. Also disclosed is an estimation and control system for the pump assembly (1, 33, 200).