Thrust Bearing Lumen for Axial Stability in Blood Pumps
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Solution Overview
Problem
Current ventricular assist devices face challenges in maintaining axial stability of the impeller within the heart ventricle due to pressure gradient variations, leading to potential axial motion and reduced efficiency in blood pumping.
Innovation Solution
The device incorporates a thrust bearing with a ceramic interface and a distal bearing housing that houses the thrust bearing, preventing axial motion of the axial shaft and ensuring axial stability, while also allowing for guidewire insertion and purging fluid flow through a continuous lumen.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Stability of the object's composition
If a thrust bearing is added to prevent axial motion of the axial shaft, then axial stability is improved, but device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The thrust bearing is nested within the distal bearing housing, which itself is positioned within the pump head assembly. This nested configuration allows the thrust bearing to be integrated into the existing structure without requiring additional external components, thereby providing axial stability while minimizing increases in overall device complexity.
2Ease of operation
If a continuous lumen is created through the thrust bearing for guidewire insertion, then ease of operation is improved, but manufacturing precision requirements increase
Solution Approach 1:
The continuous lumen serves multiple functions: it acts as a structural passage through the thrust bearing, provides a guide path for guidewire insertion during implantation, and maintains alignment between components. This multi-functional design improves ease of operation while the standardized construction methods keep manufacturing precision requirements manageable.
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 enhances the axial stability of the impeller, maintains efficient blood pumping, and reduces wear on the axial shaft, thereby improving the overall performance and longevity of the ventricular assist device.
Implementation Method 1
a thrust bearing with a ceramic interface
Data Source
AI summary
Apparatus and methods are described including a blood pump that includes an axial shaft configured for insertion, over a guidewire, into a subject's body, and for rotation within the subject's body. The axial shaft is shaped to define a shaft lumen for passage of the guidewire therethrough. An impeller is coupled to the axial shaft such that, as the axial shaft rotates, the impeller pumps blood of the subject. A thrust bearing is disposed distally from the axial shaft so as to inhibit distal movement of the axial shaft beyond the thrust bearing. The thrust bearing is shaped to define a bearing lumen that is configured to be continuous with the shaft lumen. At least a portion of the bearing lumen is frustoconically-shaped, a wider end of the frustoconically-shaped portion of the bearing lumen facing distally. Other applications are also described.