Disclosed is a blood pump device. The blood pump device includes: a housing having an overflow passage, and an inlet and an outlet respectively connected to the overflow passage; a rotor assembly rotatably disposed in the overflow passage; a coil disposed in a side wall of the housing; a first permanent magnet portion disposed inside the rotor assembly; a second permanent magnet portion disposed in the side wall of the housing, the first permanent magnet portion and the second permanent magnet portion forming a radial permanent magnet bearing; a piece of electric motor magnetic steel disposed inside a rotor of the rotor assembly; and a magnetic protection portion disposed at a periphery of the coil, wherein the magnetic protection portion and the electric motor magnetic steel act together to provide an axial pre-tightening force for the rotor assembly.

Disclosed is a blood pump device. The blood pump device includes: a housing having an overflow passage, and an inlet and an outlet respectively connected to the overflow passage; a rotor assembly rotatably disposed in the overflow passage; a coil disposed in a side wall of the housing; a first permanent magnet portion disposed inside the rotor assembly; a second permanent magnet portion disposed in the side wall of the housing, the first permanent magnet portion and the second permanent magnet portion forming a radial permanent magnet bearing; a piece of electric motor magnetic steel disposed inside a rotor of the rotor assembly; and a magnetic protection portion disposed at a periphery of the coil, wherein the magnetic protection portion and the electric motor magnetic steel act together to provide an axial pre-tightening force for the rotor assembly.

Apparatus and methods are described including placing an impeller of a ventricular assist device inside a left ventricle of a subject, with a frame disposed around the impeller. The impeller is driven to pump blood from the left ventricle to an aorta of the subject, by rotating the impeller. The impeller is placed inside the left ventricle such that the impeller is allowed to undergo axial motion with respect to the frame, in response to cyclical changes in a pressure difference between the left ventricle and the aorta. Other applications are also described.

Apparatus and methods are described including placing an impeller of a ventricular assist device inside a left ventricle of a subject, with a frame disposed around the impeller. The impeller is driven to pump blood from the left ventricle to an aorta of the subject, by rotating the impeller. The impeller is placed inside the left ventricle such that the impeller is allowed to undergo axial motion with respect to the frame, in response to cyclical changes in a pressure difference between the left ventricle and the aorta. Other applications are also described.

A tube pump includes a tube having a closed off lower end portion and an open upper end portion. The upper end portion of the tube is adapted to be fastened to support structure. The lower end portion is adapted to be submerged in molten metal. The tube includes an inlet opening and an outlet opening. A pump shaft is adapted to be connected to a motor driven drive shaft and has upper and lower end portions. The pump shaft extends inside the tube. An impeller is fastened to the lower end portion of the pump shaft and disposed near a lower end portion of the tube. Inlet and outlet conduits are connected to the tube inlet and outlet openings adjacent to a top or bottom of the impeller so that a conduit inlet opening is disposed near the surface of the bath and a conduit outlet opening is disposed remote from the conduit inlet opening. The tube pump removes dross from the galvanizing bath to produce galvanized parts having improved properties.

A tube pump includes a tube having a closed off lower end portion and an open upper end portion. The upper end portion of the tube is adapted to be fastened to support structure. The lower end portion is adapted to be submerged in molten metal. The tube includes an inlet opening and an outlet opening. A pump shaft is adapted to be connected to a motor driven drive shaft and has upper and lower end portions. The pump shaft extends inside the tube. An impeller is fastened to the lower end portion of the pump shaft and disposed near a lower end portion of the tube. Inlet and outlet conduits are connected to the tube inlet and outlet openings adjacent to a top or bottom of the impeller so that a conduit inlet opening is disposed near the surface of the bath and a conduit outlet opening is disposed remote from the conduit inlet opening. The tube pump removes dross from the galvanizing bath to produce galvanized parts having improved properties.

Apparatus and methods are described including a blood pump that is placed inside a body of subject. The blood pump includes an impeller that includes proximal and distal bushings, and that defines an axial lumen that extends from the proximal bushing to the distal bushing, a frame disposed around the impeller, and an axial shaft that passes through the proximal and distal bushings of the impeller. A distal end of a delivery catheter, and the frame and the impeller, are configured to be moved with respect to one another, to thereby cause the frame to assume a radially-constrained configuration by the frame becoming axially elongated, and cause the impeller to assume a radially-constrained configuration by the impeller becoming axially elongated. Other applications are also described.

Apparatus and methods are described including a blood pump that is placed inside a body of subject. The blood pump includes an impeller that includes proximal and distal bushings, and that defines an axial lumen that extends from the proximal bushing to the distal bushing, a frame disposed around the impeller, and an axial shaft that passes through the proximal and distal bushings of the impeller. A distal end of a delivery catheter, and the frame and the impeller, are configured to be moved with respect to one another, to thereby cause the frame to assume a radially-constrained configuration by the frame becoming axially elongated, and cause the impeller to assume a radially-constrained configuration by the impeller becoming axially elongated. Other applications are also described.

A shredding assembly for a grinder pump includes a stationary shredding ring mounted to an inlet of the pump, and a cutting device rotatable about an axial direction and fixed to a shaft of the pump. The shredding ring includes a top face, a bottom face, and a central opening extending from the top face to the bottom face and delimited in a radial direction by an inner periphery. Slots extending in the axial direction are formed in the inner periphery. The cutting device is positioned in the central opening of the shredding ring, and includes a front face and a back face. The front face includes a plurality of first cutting members extending in the axial direction and facing the slots. The back face includes a second cutting member projecting beyond the central opening with respect to the radial direction.

Apparatus comprising and methods are described including a blood pump that includes an axial shaft, and an impeller disposed on the axial shaft. The impeller is configured to pump blood of the subject by rotating. The impeller and the axial shaft are configured to undergo axial back-and-forth motion during operation of the impeller. A distal tip element is disposed at a distal end of the blood pump. The distal tip element defines an axial-shaft-receiving tube, configured to receive at least a portion of the axial shaft during forward motion of the axial shaft. The distal tip element additionally defines an atraumatic distal tip portion disposed distally of the axial-shaft-receiving tube. Other applications are also described.