Centrifugal Pump Shaft Surface Roughness for Blood Compatibility

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Solution Overview

Problem

Centrifugal pumps used in heart-lung machines during cardiac surgery often cause hemolysis and thrombus formation due to sliding between the shaft and pivot bearing, leading to impeller rotation issues.

Innovation Solution

The centrifugal pump design features shaft ends with surface roughness Ra equal to or less than 0.21 µm and Ry equal to or less than 1.49 µm, supported by pivot bearings, with the option of the shaft being formed from alumina ceramic to prevent hemolysis and thrombus formation.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Reliability

If a pivot bearing is used to support the shaft, then the pump can prevent thrombus formation in the circulation circuit, but hemolysis occurs due to sliding between the shaft and the pivot bearing

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvethrombus preventionVSAvoidhemolysis
Core Design Contradiction:
ReliabilityVSObject-affected harmful factors

Solution Approach 1:

The invention changes the surface roughness parameter of the shaft end to Ra≤0.21μm and Ry≤1.49μm, transforming the sliding interface from a high-roughness state that causes hemolysis to a low-roughness state that protects blood cells while maintaining the pivot bearing configuration

Inventive Principle:
Principle #35Parameter changes

Solution Approach 2:

The invention replaces the conventional metal shaft material with ceramic material (such as alumina), substituting the mechanical properties of the shaft to reduce friction and sliding damage to blood cells while maintaining the pivot bearing support system

Inventive Principle:
Principle #28Mechanics substitution (Replace mechanical system)

2Device complexity

If a pivot bearing is used to support the shaft, then the pump structure is simple and reliable, but a thrombus is likely to be formed on the sliding surface between the shaft and the pivot bearing

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvebearing structure simplicityVSAvoidthrombus prevention
Core Design Contradiction:
Device complexityVSReliability

Solution Approach 1:

The invention changes the surface roughness parameter of the shaft end to Ra≤0.21μm and Ry≤1.49μm, preventing thrombus formation on the sliding surface while maintaining the simple pivot bearing structure without requiring complex modifications to the bearing configuration

Inventive Principle:
Principle #35Parameter changes

3Object-affected harmful factors

If the shaft surface is smooth, then hemolysis is prevented, but manufacturing precision requirements increase

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvehemolysis preventionVSAvoidsurface roughness control
Core Design Contradiction:
Object-affected harmful factorsVSManufacturing precision

Solution Approach 1:

The invention replaces conventional metal shaft material with ceramic material (such as alumina), which inherently provides a smooth surface that meets the Ra≤0.21μm and Ry≤1.49μm requirements while the material substitution simplifies the manufacturing process compared to achieving such fine surface finish on traditional metals

Inventive Principle:
Principle #28Mechanics substitution (Replace mechanical system)

Applied Scientific Principles

This section explains which scientific principles are used to turn an abstract innovation direction into a practical engineering solution.

Function Achieved in This Case

This configuration effectively prevents hemolysis and thrombus formation, enhancing the prevention of blood damage and pump efficiency by controlling surface roughness and material selection.

Implementation Method 1

bearings that respectively and pivotally support shaft ends provided on both sides of the shaft in an axial direction

Methodology Applied
Scientific EffectPivot bearing: Ball

Implementation Method 2

a centrifugal pump which delivers liquid such as blood and the like... a centrifugal pump which delivers blood by utilizing centrifugal force occurring due to rotations of an impeller

Methodology Applied
Scientific EffectCentrifugal force: Centrifugal Force

Data Source

PatentEP3088740B1Centrifugal pump
Publication Date: 2020.08.05 TERUMO KK
  • EP3088740B1 patent drawingFigure 1
  • EP3088740B1 patent drawingFigure 2
  • EP3088740B1 patent drawingFigure 3

AI summary

A centrifugal pump (10) includes a housing (26), an impeller (28) that is rotatably disposed inside the housing (26), a shaft (62) that is provided at a center in a radial direction of the impeller (28), and bearings (70) that respectively and pivotally support shaft ends (66) provided on both sides of the shaft (62) in an axial direction. At least one of the shaft ends (66) has surface roughness Ra equal to or less than 0.21 µm or surface roughness Ry equal to or less than 1.49 µm.