A shaft characterized by its length to diameter ratio being less than about 1.75 having a drive connection at one end where the wall thickness of the shaft is selected to be thick enough to avoid ellipticalization strain error in torsional measurement of less than 5%. One specific application is for a crankset spindle that can be used to measure a cyclist right, left, and total leg torque.

A blood flow assist system can include an impeller assembly including an impeller shaft and an impeller on the impeller shaft, a primary flow pathway disposed along an exterior surface of the impeller. The system can include a rotor assembly at a proximal portion of the impeller shaft. A secondary flow pathway can be disposed along a lumen of the impeller shaft. During operation of the blood flow assist system, blood can be pumped proximally along the primary flow pathway and the secondary flow pathway. The system can include a sleeve bearing distal the impeller. The system can include a drive unit having a distal end disposed distal a proximal end of the second impeller. The drive unit comprising a drive magnet and a drive bearing between the drive magnet and the impeller assembly.

A vapor compression system including a motor having a housing and a shaft having an axis, the shaft urgable into rotational movement by the motor for powering a system component. A primary bearing and a secondary bearing are positioned in the housing for rotatably supporting the shaft, the primary bearing rotatably supporting the shaft during normal system operation. A first bearing stop and a second bearing stop are positioned on opposite sides of the secondary bearing for transmitting axial forces generated along the shaft for reaction by the motor housing during abnormal system operation. At least a portion of corresponding surfaces of each of the first bearing stop and the second bearing stop facing the secondary bearing have a protective overlying layer of material applied thereto.

A blood flow assist system can include an impeller assembly including an impeller shaft and an impeller on the impeller shaft, a primary flow pathway disposed along an exterior surface of the impeller. The system can include a rotor assembly at a proximal portion of the impeller shaft. A secondary flow pathway can be disposed along a lumen of the impeller shaft. During operation of the blood flow assist system, blood can be pumped proximally along the primary flow pathway and the secondary flow pathway. The system can include a sleeve bearing distal the impeller. The system can include a drive unit having a distal end disposed distal a proximal end of the second impeller. The drive unit comprising a drive magnet and a drive bearing between the drive magnet and the impeller assembly.

A blood flow assist system can include an impeller assembly including an impeller shaft and an impeller on the impeller shaft, a primary flow pathway disposed along an exterior surface of the impeller. The system can include a rotor assembly at a proximal portion of the impeller shaft. A secondary flow pathway can be disposed along a lumen of the impeller shaft. During operation of the blood flow assist system, blood can be pumped proximally along the primary flow pathway and the secondary flow pathway. The system can include a sleeve bearing distal the impeller. The system can include a drive unit having a distal end disposed distal a proximal end of the second impeller. The drive unit comprising a drive magnet and a drive bearing between the drive magnet and the impeller assembly.

A blood flow assist system can include an impeller assembly including an impeller shaft and an impeller on the impeller shaft, a primary flow pathway disposed along an exterior surface of the impeller. The system can include a rotor assembly at a proximal portion of the impeller shaft. A secondary flow pathway can be disposed along a lumen of the impeller shaft. During operation of the blood flow assist system, blood can be pumped proximally along the primary flow pathway and the secondary flow pathway. The system can include a sleeve bearing distal the impeller. The system can include a drive unit having a distal end disposed distal a proximal end of the second impeller. The drive unit comprising a drive magnet and a drive bearing between the drive magnet and the impeller assembly.

A connecting rod comprises a shaft connecting a first end including a first bore with a second end including a second bore. Methods for forming and assembling a connecting rod and crankshaft assembly include fabricating the second end of the connecting rod via additive manufacturing such that the second end comprises a first and second weakened regions on opposing sides of the second bore, and breaking the second end of the connecting rod at the first and second weakened regions to form a connecting rod assembly comprising a second end base and a second end cap, wherein the base comprises a first fracture face and a second fracture face which each respectively correspond to a first fracture face and a second fracture face of the cap. The methods can further include mating the base and the cap such that a crankpin of a crankshaft is disposed within the second bore.

A shaft characterized by its length to diameter ratio being less than about 1.75 having a drive connection at one end where the wall thickness of the shaft is selected to be thick enough to avoid ellipticalization strain error in torsional measurement of less than 5%. One specific application is for a crankset spindle that can be used to measure a cyclist right, left, and total leg torque.

A bi-metallic bearing assembly is provided for an associated pump. The bearing assembly includes a sleeve formed of a first metal, and having at least one opening therein, and an insert formed of a different, second metal, wherein the insert is received in the sleeve opening. The sleeve is preferably formed using an additive manufacturing process. The insert and/or a separate face plate are preferably formed through a machining process, and the insert is mechanically joined to the sleeve, and the face plate is preferably mechanically joined to the sleeve and also advantageously retains the insert in the sleeve.

A contact layer is formed by a deposition method on an inner surface of a first metal element by a centrifuging process, and preferably includes an inner layer of copper alloy and an outer layer of tin alloy. Such a contact layer is used in an articulation joint including a first metal element having a surface provided with the contact layer, and a second metal element with a second surface. The first and second elements are relatively movable such that first and second surfaces slide against each other.