A sliding member for a thrust bearing is provided. A sliding layer includes fibrous particles dispersed in a synthetic resin, and has a sliding surface side region and an interface side region. The particles have an average particle size D.sub.sur, first and D.sub.sur, second respectively in first and second cross-sections in the sliding surface side region, and D.sub.int, first and D.sub.int, second respectively in first and second cross-sections in the interface side region. D.sub.sur, first and D.sub.int, second are 5-30 μm, and D.sub.sur, second and D.sub.int, first are 5 to 20% of respectively D.sub.sur, first and D.sub.int, second. A dispersion index of the particles having the major axis length of 20 μm or longer is 5 or more, both in the sliding surface side region in view of the first cross-section and in the interface side region in view of the second cross-section.

A bearing liner includes a binder with a resin material, a pre-preg, a structural yarn and a lubricating yarn, and particles of aluminum oxide (Al.sub.2O.sub.3). The particles of aluminum oxide may be embedded within the binder or within the lubricating yarn, or may be embedded within both the binder and the lubricating yarn. A plain bearing includes an inner ring, an outer ring and such a liner interposed or disposed between the rings.

Proposed is a novel coupling mechanism capable of applying a preload to a ball portion and a socket portion which constitute a coupling mechanism of a titling pad bearing, without using a spring element.

A ball bearing includes an inner ring; an outer ring placed outside of the inner ring; a plurality of rolling bodies intervening between the inner ring and the outer ring; and an annular cage including pockets rotatably holding the rolling bodies in a circumferential direction at intervals determining a rotation axis to be a center. The cage comprises a resin composition comprising a polyetherketone-based resin, graphite, and a carbon fiber. The resin composition comprises the polyetherketone-based resin in an amount of 60% by weight or more and 80% by weight or less, the graphite in an amount of 10% by weight or more and 30% by weight or less, and the carbon fiber in an amount of 5% by weight or more and 20% by weight or less when the entire resin composition is determined to be 100% by weight.

A rolling bearing is disclosed which comprises an outer ring and an inner ring, wherein rolling elements are arranged between the outer ring and the inner ring, and wherein the rolling elements are spaced apart by a cage being arranged between the outer ring and the inner ring, wherein the cage is made of polymer containing reinforcing fibers, and the outer ring and/or the inner ring are steel rings with fine carbide precipitation.

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.

The resin injection gate is disposed at the pillar part. When the bearing cage is divided into first and second regions by an imaginary line connecting the resin injection gate and a weld to be formed at a position radially facing the resin injection gate, a resin reservoir that can store therein the melted resin is formed at the pillar part in only one of the regions. A circumferential distance between the resin reservoir and the weld is smaller than a circumferential distance between the resin reservoir and the resin injection gate. A cross-sectional area of a communicating part of the resin reservoir, which is configured to communicate with the pillar part, is equal to or less than a quarter of a cross-sectional area of the resin injection gate.

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.