摘要 |
An artificial heart has a driving section (5) and a pump section (4), and a sealing section (31) forming a seal for a driving shaft extending from the driving section (5) for driving the pump section (4). A sealing liquid chamber (30) filled with a sealing liquid is formed around the driving shaft (26) between the sealing mechanism (31) and the driving section (5). The sealing liquid in the sealing liquid chamber (30) maintains the sealing mechanism (31) in a liquid-tight state and lubricates the sealing mechanism (31), whereby blood is prevented from entering the driving section (5). Even if blood happens to enter the sealing liquid chamber (30), the blood is mixed with the sealing liquid and does not coagulate. Thus, the operation of the artificial heart is not suppressed. <IMAGE> |