Connector for blood pump bearing and forming die thereof

Abstract

The present invention relates to the field of medical device technology, and in particular to a connector for a blood pump bearing and a molding die thereof; the connector comprises a cover body, the cover body having a cavity for accommodating the bearing, the interior of the cover body being connected to a cleaning pipe, and the exterior of the cover body being connected to a cable; the beneficial effects of the present invention are: (1) providing a connector that can be used to accommodate a blood pump bearing, while separating the cleaning fluid around the bearing from the circuit structure, thereby ensuring the normal and stable operation of the blood pump function; and (2) providing a molding die for the connector, which has the advantages of high production efficiency, stable quality, and easy demoulding.

Description

Technical Field

[0001] The present invention relates to the technical field of medical devices, and in particular to a connector for a blood pump bearing and a forming die thereof. Background Art

[0002] Blood pumps can support the patient's cardiac function and provide hemodynamic support for cardiogenic shock or acute heart failure in short-term applications (a few days or weeks) or long-term applications (a few weeks or months). There are many types of known blood pumps, such as axial flow blood pumps, centrifugal blood pumps, or hybrid blood pumps, whose structures include a pump casing and an impeller, with an electric motor disposed in the cavity of the pump casing. The rotor of the electric motor is a permanent magnet, which is arranged on the rotating shaft and coupled to the impeller. The stator is provided with a coil winding and is arranged coaxially with the rotor. When current is applied, an interacting electromagnetic field is formed between the winding and the permanent magnet, generating axial force and / or radial force, causing the rotor and impeller to rotate synchronously in the circumferential direction, thereby pumping blood in the ventricle into the artery to achieve blood flow.

[0003] To ensure the correct position and orientation of the impeller in the blood pump, the shaft connecting the impeller must be mounted within the pump housing via two bearings. The impeller-side bearing is adjacent to the blood environment, while the bearing away from the impeller is adjacent to the connection point between the cable and the winding. On the side adjacent to the blood environment, the shaft and impeller in the pump couple in motion, creating a gap in the dynamic fit between the pump housing and the shaft, allowing blood to seep into the pump housing. Blood has a complex composition, and when flowing through the internal structure of the pump housing, there is a risk of thrombosis, posing a safety hazard. To prevent blood from seeping into the blood pump, a cleaning fluid (such as heparin or glucose solution) can be introduced from outside the body into the blood pump and directed outward from the impeller. This fluid is used to push the blood outward, preventing it from entering the blood pump or forming a thrombus. The inlet for the cleaning fluid is generally adjacent to the connection point between the cable and the winding. To prevent the cleaning fluid from contacting the electrical connection point and impairing the blood pump's function, the cleaning fluid and electrical connection paths must be isolated from each other. The existing polymer potting and curing methods make it difficult to maintain effective isolation between the water and electrical circuits. Summary of the Invention

[0004] The primary objective of the present invention is to provide a connector for a blood pump bearing, comprising a housing having a cavity for accommodating the bearing, the interior of the housing communicating with a cleaning tube, and the exterior of the housing connected to a cable. By arranging the housing structure to accommodate the bearing within its cavity and connecting the cleaning tube to the housing, the connector ensures the proper flow of fluid in the cleaning tube while preventing contact between the internal fluid and the external circuitry, effectively ensuring the proper operation of the blood pump.

[0005] As a preferred technical solution, the cover body is formed by enclosing a first cover shell and a second cover shell. The two cover shells are used in combination, which is easy to assemble and deploy.

[0006] As a preferred technical solution, a gap is formed between the first and second housings, and the gap is filled with adhesive. During use, the adhesive can be bonded and cured between the first and second housings. When used in a blood pump and in operation, the high-speed operation of the motor in the blood pump drives blood flow, generating heat. Under the thermal expansion effect, the gap structure between the first and second housings provides a buffer space for thermal expansion.

[0007] As a preferred technical solution, a through hole for arranging the rotating shaft is provided at the end of the first housing, and the diameter of the through hole is larger than the radial dimension of the rotating shaft. In this way, the first housing and the rotating shaft form a clearance fit, which can provide a flow path for the cleaning fluid.

[0008] As a preferred technical solution, the aperture of the through hole is not larger than the outer diameter of the stator core, so that during assembly, the end of the stator core abuts against the first cover shell. In this way, during potting, the glue will not penetrate into the cover body through the through hole, avoiding obstruction of the relative movement of the bearing and the rotating shaft.

[0009] As a preferred technical solution, the end of the second cover is provided with a connection hole for arranging a cleaning pipe. At the connection hole, the second cover and the cleaning pipe form a tight fit to prevent the cleaning fluid from leaking and damaging the circuit structure.

[0010] As a preferred technical solution, a connecting pipe for connecting a cleaning pipe is provided on the connecting hole, and a tight fit is formed between the cleaning pipe and the connecting pipe. Specifically, the cleaning pipe and the connecting pipe can be glued together. The provision of the connecting pipe extends the bonding length between the cleaning pipe and the second cover shell, thereby ensuring the firmness of the connection between the second cover shell and the cleaning pipe.

[0011] As a preferred technical solution, the proximal end diameter of the connecting tube is large and the distal end diameter is small, which is convenient for inserting the cleaning tube, filling the glue and providing a limiting function.

[0012] As a preferred technical solution, the end surface of the second cover shell protrudes outward, so that there is a gap between the internal rotating shaft and the end of the second cover shell, providing flow space for the fluid in the cleaning pipe after entering the cover body.

[0013] As a preferred technical solution, the contour of the cover body may optionally have a chamfered / rounded structure to suit the assembly and blood pump application environment.

[0014] As a preferred technical solution, an annular gasket is attached to the end surface of the second housing, and a metal sheet connected to the cable is provided on the gasket. The external gasket can completely separate the circuit from the waterway, ensuring the operational stability of the blood pump.

[0015] As a preferred technical solution, steps for mounting bearings are provided around the through holes and the connecting holes, and the shape of the step surface is adapted to the shape of the bearing to fix the correct posture and position of the bearing.

[0016] As a preferred technical solution, the outer walls of the housing or the first and second housings are axially provided with conductive wire grooves. The grooves accommodate wires for electrically connecting the coil windings wound on the stator core to the cables. This ensures a consistent adhesive thickness around the walls during potting of the blood pump.

[0017] As a preferred technical solution, the grooves are arranged at intervals of 1-5 in the circumferential direction of the metal sheet.

[0018] Another object of the present invention is to provide a forming mold for the connecting piece as described above, comprising upper and lower mold bases and upper and lower mold frames for fixing the upper and lower mold bases, the upper and lower mold bases are respectively provided with an upper punch and a lower die, the upper punch and the lower die enclose a mold cavity for accommodating the cover body, the lower mold base is provided with a feed main pipe extending from the outside to the lower die, a power mechanism drives the upper mold base to approach or move away from the lower mold base, the number of the mold cavities is ≥2, and feed branches leading from the feed main pipe to each mold cavity are provided on the molding surfaces of the upper punch and the lower die. When in use, the mold can form multiple sets of connecting pieces at the same time, effectively improving production efficiency. Preferably, the upper and lower mold bases are made of metal to provide sufficient hardness support and have high temperature resistance and easy demolding properties.

[0019] According to the preferred technical solution of the present invention, the upper punch includes a first punch adapted to the shape of the inner cavity of the first cover shell and a second punch adapted to the shape of the inner cavity of the second cover shell, the lower die includes a first die adapted to the shape of the outer periphery of the first cover shell and a second die adapted to the shape of the outer periphery of the second cover shell, the first punch and the first die form a mold cavity for accommodating the first cover shell, the second punch and the second die form a mold cavity for accommodating the second cover shell, one end of the feed branch pipe is connected to the mold cavity, and the other end is connected to the feed main pipe.

[0020] In a preferred embodiment of the present invention, the feed branch pipe has a tapered end adjacent to the mold cavity. This minimizes the contact area between the feed pipe structure and the mold cavity, facilitating separation of the solidified waste material from the molded connector after the polymer solidifies.

[0021] The preferred technical solution of the present invention also includes a heating unit, which includes an insulation plate wrapped around the upper and lower mold bases and a heating tube for heating the upper and lower mold bases, and the heating tube extends from the outside through the insulation plate and is inserted into the upper and lower mold bases. Due to the size restrictions on the structure in the blood pump in the blood application scenario, the connector must be thin enough, biocompatible, and have good mechanical properties and mechanical strength, so the types of materials used to make the connector are limited. Exemplarily, the material of the connector selected by the present invention is TPU or PEEK; in particular, hard TPU; preferably, PEEK. The melting point of PEEK is more than 300 degrees Celsius. When injecting molten material into the mold cavity, or during the mold molding process, if insulation is not performed, the high-temperature material will suddenly solidify when it is cooled, forming a fault between the subsequently injected liquid and the solidified liquid, affecting the physical and performance of the molded connector. Through insulation treatment, the stability of the quality of the connector can be guaranteed.

[0022] The beneficial effects of the present invention are:

[0023] (1) A connector is provided to accommodate a blood pump bearing and to separate the cleaning fluid around the bearing from the circuit structure, thereby ensuring the normal and stable operation of the blood pump function.

[0024] (2) Provide a forming mold for a connector, which has the advantages of high production efficiency, stable quality, and easy demoulding. BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0025] Figure 1-2 This is a schematic structural diagram of a connector according to embodiment 1 of the present invention;

[0026] Figure 3 This is a schematic diagram of the use state of the connecting piece of Example 1 of the present invention;

[0027] Figure 4 Schematic diagram of the three-dimensional structure of the mold in Example 2 of the present invention;

[0028] Figure 5 for Figure 4 Schematic diagram of the structure of the middle and lower die base;

[0029] Figure 6 for Figure 4 Schematic diagram of the structure of the middle and upper die base;

[0030] Figure 7 for Figure 4 Schematic diagram of the three-dimensional structure of the middle and lower mold base. DETAILED DESCRIPTION

[0031] The present invention will be further described in detail with reference to the accompanying drawings. These embodiments are only for illustrative purposes and are not intended to limit the scope of the present invention.

[0032] Example 1 Connector for a blood pump bearing

[0033] See Figure 1-2 A connector for a blood pump bearing includes a housing with a cavity for accommodating a bearing A. During use, a cleaning fluid is passed into the housing, while the circuit is located outside the housing. This prevents contact between the internal fluid and the external circuitry, effectively ensuring the proper operation of the blood pump. Preferably, the housing has optional chamfered / rounded edges to accommodate assembly and the blood pump's application environment.

[0034] To facilitate assembly and deployment, the housing is enclosed by first and second housing shells 10 and 20. Furthermore, to meet the mechanical strength, thermal stability, and biocompatibility requirements of a small-scale structure, the first and second housing shells 10 and 20 are made of, for example, hard TPU or PEEK, such as PEEK. In a preferred technical solution, a gap is provided between the first and second housing shells 10 and 20. During use, an adhesive can be used to bond and solidify the first and second housing shells 10 and 20. When used in a blood pump and in operation, the high-speed operation of the motor in the blood pump drives blood flow, generating heat. Under the effect of thermal expansion, the gap structure between the first and second housing shells 10 and 20 provides a buffer for thermal expansion. Specifically, steps are provided around the through hole 11 and the connecting hole 21 for mounting the bearing A. The shape of the step surface is adapted to the shape of the bearing A to secure and ensure the correct posture and position of the bearing A.

[0035] The end of the first housing 10 is provided with a through hole 11 for receiving the rotating shaft B. The diameter of the through hole 11 is larger than the radial dimension of the rotating shaft B. Thus, the first housing 10 and the rotating shaft B form a clearance fit, providing a flow path for the cleaning fluid. Preferably, the diameter of the through hole 11 is no larger than the outer diameter of the stator core (not shown). This allows the end of the stator core (not shown) to abut against the first housing 10 during assembly. This prevents the glue from seeping into the housing through the through hole 11 during potting, thereby preventing the relative movement of the bearing A and the rotating shaft B from being obstructed.

[0036] The end of the second housing 20 is provided with a connection hole 21 for arranging the cleaning tube C. At the connection hole 21, the second housing 20 and the cleaning tube C form a tight fit, thereby preventing the cleaning fluid from leaking out and damaging the circuit structure. A connection tube 22 is provided on the connection hole 21, and the connection tube 22 forms a tight fit with the connection hole 21 and the cleaning tube C. Specifically, the cleaning tube C and the connection tube 22 can be glued together. The provision of the connection tube 22 extends the glue connection length between the cleaning tube C and the second housing 20, thus ensuring the firmness of the connection between the second housing 20 and the cleaning tube C. The connection tube 22 has a large diameter at the proximal end and a small diameter at the distal end. This facilitates the insertion of the cleaning tube C, facilitates the filling of the glue, and provides a position limiting function. Preferably, the end surface of the second housing 20 protrudes outward, leaving a gap between the internal rotating shaft B and the end of the second housing 20, providing space for the fluid in the cleaning tube C to flow after entering the housing. Preferably, an annular gasket 30 is attached to the end of the second cover shell 20, and the annular gasket 30 is arranged around the connecting hole 21. A metal sheet 31 connected to the cable D is provided on the gasket 30. The external gasket 30 can facilitate the installation of the cable D to ensure the operational stability of the blood pump, and can completely separate the circuit from the waterway to ensure the operational stability of the blood pump.

[0037] The outer walls of the housing or first and second housings 10, 20 are axially provided with conductive grooves 12. These grooves 12 accommodate wires (not shown) for electrical connection between the coil windings (not shown) wound around the stator core (not shown) and the cable D. This ensures a consistent adhesive thickness around the blood pump walls during potting. Preferably, the grooves 12 are spaced 1-5 apart, for example, 3, around the circumference of the metal sheet 31.

[0038] Example 2: Molding die for connector

[0039] See Figure 3-6 A forming mold for a connector. The structure of the connector is shown in Example 1. The forming mold includes upper and lower mold bases 100, 200, a heating unit 300, and upper and lower mold frames 410, 420.

[0040] The upper and lower die bases 100, 200 are made of metal, and are respectively provided with an upper punch 110 and a lower die 210, and a mold cavity for accommodating the cover body is enclosed between the upper punch 110 and the lower die 210; the lower die base 200 is provided with a feed main pipe 220 extending from the outside to the lower die 210, and the forming surfaces of the upper punch 110 and the lower die 210 are provided with feed branches 230 leading from the feed main pipe 220 to each mold cavity, and a power mechanism (not shown) drives the upper die base 100 to move closer to or away from the lower die base 200; the upper punch 110 includes a first punch 111 adapted to the shape of the inner cavity of the first cover shell 10 and a second punch 112 adapted to the shape of the inner cavity of the second cover shell 20, and the lower die 210 includes The first die 211 adapted to the outer peripheral shape of the first housing 10 and the second die 212 adapted to the outer peripheral shape of the second housing 20, the first punch 111 and the first die 211 enclose a mold cavity A for accommodating the first housing 10, and the second punch 112 and the second die 212 enclose a mold cavity B for accommodating the second housing 20. One end of the feed branch pipe 230 is connected to the mold cavity, and the other end is connected to the feed main pipe 220, so that the slurry is dispersed into the mold cavity A and the mold cavity B. In particular, the number of the mold cavities (composed of the mold cavity A and the mold cavity B) is ≥2, that is, the mold can simultaneously form multiple sets of connectors, effectively improving production efficiency. Specifically, the end of the feed branch pipe 230 adjacent to the mold cavity is in a closing shape with a gradually decreasing diameter. The contact area between the structure on the feed pipeline and the mold cavity is minimized as much as possible. After the slurry is solidified and formed, it is convenient to separate the solidified waste on the pipeline from the formed connector.

[0041] The heating unit 300 includes a heat preservation plate 310 wrapped around the upper and lower mold bases 100, 200 and a heating tube 320 for heating the upper and lower mold bases 100, 200. The heating tube 320 extends from the outside through the heat preservation plate 310 and is inserted into the upper and lower mold bases 100, 200. Due to the size restrictions on the structure of the blood pump in the blood application scenario, the connector must be thin enough, biocompatible, and have good mechanical properties and mechanical strength. Therefore, the materials used to make the connector are limited. For example, they are hard TPU or PEEK, preferably PEEK. The melting point of PEEK is over 300 degrees Celsius. When injecting molten material into the mold cavity, or during the mold forming process, if insulation is not performed, the high-temperature material will suddenly solidify when it is cooled, forming a fault between the subsequently injected liquid and the solidified liquid, affecting the physical and performance of the molded connector. Through insulation treatment, the stability of the quality of the connector can be guaranteed.

[0042] The upper and lower mold bases 100 and 200 are fixed on the upper and lower mold frames 410 and 420 respectively.

[0043] According to a preferred technical solution of the present invention, the upper and lower mold bases are respectively fixed on the upper and lower mold frames to facilitate demoulding.

[0044] The above description of the specific embodiments of the present invention does not limit the present invention. Those skilled in the art can make various changes or modifications based on the present invention. As long as they do not depart from the spirit of the present invention, they should fall within the scope of protection of the claims of the present invention.

Claims

1. A connector for a blood pump bearing, characterized in that: The blood pump comprises a housing having a cavity for accommodating a bearing (A), the interior of the housing being in communication with a cleaning tube (C), and the exterior of the housing being connected to a cable (D); the blood pump comprises a pump housing and an impeller, an electric motor being disposed in the cavity of the pump housing, the rotor of the electric motor being a permanent magnet, disposed on a rotating shaft (B) and coupled to the impeller, a stator being provided with a coil winding and being coaxially arranged with the rotor, the rotating shaft (B) connected to the impeller being mounted in the pump housing via two bearings, wherein the impeller-side bearing is adjacent to the blood environment, while the side bearing away from the impeller (A) is adjacent to the connection point between the cable (D) and the winding; The cover body is formed by enclosing a first cover shell and a second cover shell, and there is a gap between the first cover shell and the second cover shell, and the gap is filled with adhesive; The end of the second housing is provided with a connection hole for arranging a cleaning pipe, and at the connection hole, the second housing and the cleaning pipe (C) form a tight fit; The end surface of the second cover shell protrudes outward; An annular gasket is attached to the end surface of the second housing, and a metal sheet connected to the cable (D) is provided on the gasket; The outer wall of the cover body or the first and second cover shells is axially provided with a wire groove.

2. The connector for a blood pump bearing according to claim 1, characterized in that: The end of the first housing is provided with a through hole for arranging the rotating shaft (B), and the diameter of the through hole is larger than the radial dimension of the rotating shaft (B).

3. The connector for a blood pump bearing according to claim 2, characterized in that: The through hole diameter is not larger than the outer diameter of the stator core.

4. The connector for a blood pump bearing according to claim 1, characterized in that: The connecting hole is provided with a connecting pipe, which is tightly fitted with the connecting hole and the cleaning pipe (C).

5. The connector for a blood pump bearing according to claim 4, characterized in that: The proximal end of the connecting tube has a larger diameter and the distal end has a smaller diameter.

6. The connector for a blood pump bearing according to claim 1, wherein: The grooves are arranged at intervals of 1 to 5 in the circumferential direction of the metal sheet.

7. A forming die for a connector according to any one of claims 1 to 6, comprising upper and lower die bases and upper and lower die frames for fixing the upper and lower die bases, the upper and lower die bases being respectively provided with an upper punch and a lower concave die, the upper punch and the lower concave die forming a die cavity for accommodating a cover body, the lower die base being provided with a feed manifold extending from the outside to the lower concave die, a power mechanism driving the upper die base to move closer to or away from the lower die base, and characterized in that: The number of the mold cavities is ≥2, and the molding surfaces of the upper punch and the lower concave mold are provided with feed branch pipes leading from the feed main pipe to each mold cavity.

8. The forming die of the connector according to claim 7, characterized in that: The upper punch includes a first punch adapted to the shape of the inner cavity of the first cover shell and a second punch adapted to the shape of the inner cavity of the second cover shell. The lower die includes a first die adapted to the shape of the outer periphery of the first cover shell and a second die adapted to the shape of the outer periphery of the second cover shell. The first punch and the first die form a mold cavity for accommodating the first cover shell. The second punch and the second die form a mold cavity for accommodating the second cover shell. One end of the feed branch pipe is connected to the mold cavity, and the other end is connected to the feed main pipe.

9. The forming die of the connector according to claim 7, characterized in that: One end of the feed branch pipe adjacent to the mold cavity is in a closing shape with a gradually decreasing pipe diameter.

10. The forming die of the connector according to claim 7, characterized in that: It also includes a heating unit, which includes an insulation plate wrapped around the upper and lower mold bases and a heating pipe for heating the upper and lower mold bases. The heating pipe extends from the outside through the insulation plate and is inserted into the upper and lower mold bases.

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