Blood pump device and method of producing

Abstract

The present invention pertains to a blood pump device which comprises a blood pump having blood transport ports and cannulae connected to the ports. The blood pump device also comprises a coating material covering the junction between the inner surfaces of the ports and cannulae. This forms a smooth transition so blood can flow unimpeded therefrom and collection cavities for the blood are eliminated. The invention is also related to a method of producing a smooth coating. The present invention is a blood pump device comprising a second portion having a stator mechanism and a rotor mechanism disposed adjacent to and driven by the stator mechanism. The second portion has a journal disposed about the rotor mechanism to provide support therewith. The second portion has an impeller disposed in the chamber and a one-piece seal member for sealing about a shaft of the impeller. The seal member is fixedly attached to the journal so that the seal member is supported by the journal. The present invention is also related to means for providing power to the blood pump so that blood can be pumped through a cannulae. The providing means includes a controller having means for sensing pump failure and an output terminal for actuating a safety occluder in an event of pump failure. Preferably, there is a safety occluder device disposed about the cannulae and in communication with the output terminal. Preferably, the blood pump comprises a motor having stator mechanism and a rotor mechanism driven by the stator mechanism. The sensing means comprises means for determining back electromagnetic force within the stator mechanism. Preferably, the controlling means has means for providing signals indicate of stator current and rotor speed, respectively. The providing means is in communication with the means for determining back electromagnetic force in the stator mechanism.

Description

FIELD OF THE INVENTION [0001] The present invention is related in general to medical devices. More specifically, the present invention is related to a blood pump device for cardiac assist. BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION [0002] Ventricular assist devices are receiving ever-increasing attention in our society where 400,000 Americans are diagnosed with congestive heart failure each year (Rutan, P. M., Galvin, E. A.: Adult and pediatric ventricular heart failure, in Quall, S. H. (ed), Cardiac Mechanical Assistance Beyond Balloon Pumping, St. Louis, Mosby, 1993, pp. 3-24). As a result, collaborative efforts among health care professionals have focussed on the development of various systems to assist the failing heart. These comprise both extracorporeal and implantable pulsatile ventricular assist devices (VAD), as well as non-pulsatile assist pumps. [0003] Extracorporeal systems include the Pierce-Donachy VAD and the Abiomed BVS-5000 VAD. The Pierce-Donachy VAD is positioned on the patient'...

AI Technical Summary

Benefits of technology

[0018] The present invention is also a blood pump device which has an infusion port for providing lubricant material about the rotor, the infusion port has an inner diameter greater than 0.05 inches for minimizing pressure needed to introduce lubricant material into the blood pump.

Problems solved by technology

However, certain complications are associated with the use of extracorporeal systems, including relatively lengthy surgical implantation procedures and limited patient mobility.

The use of totally implantable systems raises concerns such as high cost of the device, complex device design, and again, relatively difficult insertion techniques.

In addition, the use of centrifugal pumps in medium-term applications (1-6 months) may allow the more complex, expensive VADs, namely the Novacor and the Heartmate, to be used in longer term applications where higher cost, increased device complexity, and involved surgical procedures may be justified.

Currently, centrifugal pumps are not implantable and are used clinically only for CPB.

Because of the interface between the spinning impeller shaft and the blood seal, several problems exist with both these pumps, including excessive wear at this interface, thrombus formation, and blood seepage into the motor causing eventual pump failure (Sharp, M. K.: An orbiting scroll blood pump without valves or rotating seals.

The prior art AB-180 pump has certain drawbacks which limit its efficacy as a cardiac assist device.

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