The invention relates to a rotor bearing system (1). Said system comprises a housing (80) in which a first permanent magnet (30) is mounted such that it can rotate about a first axis (105). A rotor (70) for conveying a liquid comprises a second hollow-cylindrical permanent magnet (40), which is mounted such that it can rotate about a second axis. The first permanent magnet (30) and the second permanent magnet (40) overlap axially at least partially, wherein the first permanent magnet (30) is disposed offset relative to the second permanent magnet (40). In the axial overlap region (160) of the first permanent magnet (30) and the second permanent magnet (40), the housing (80) is positioned between the two permanent magnets (30, 40). A first bearing (20) is configured for the relative axial positioning of the rotor (70) and the housing (80) with respect to one another and for receiving an axial force resulting from the arrangement of the first permanent magnet (30) and the second permanent magnet (40), and a second bearing (10) and a third bearing (90) are configured for receiving radial forces and for positioning the axis of rotation of the second permanent magnet (40).

A mechanical bearing contains a first component and a further component, wherein the mechanical bearing is designed such that the first component and the further component are able to execute a bearing movement relative to each other, wherein the first component or the further component contains a cermet or both contain a cermet. The invention further relates to an implantable medical device containing the mechanical bearing, in particular to a blood pump, and also to a use of a cermet for producing a mechanical bearing, and to a use of the mechanical bearing for supporting a component of an implantable medical device.

Various contactless bearing mechanisms including hydrodynamic and magnetic bearings are provided for a rotary pump as alternatives to mechanical contact bearings. In one embodiment, a pump apparatus includes a pump housing defining a pumping chamber. The housing has a spindle extending into the pumping chamber. A spindle magnet assembly includes first and second magnets disposed within the spindle. The first and second magnets are arranged proximate each other with their respective magnetic vectors opposing each other. The lack of mechanical contact bearings enables longer life pump operation and less damage to working fluids such as blood.

A magnetically levitated motor includes a stator, a rotor configured to rotate relative to the stator, and a passive radial magnetic bearing configured to support the rotor relative to the stator in a radial direction. An active longitudinal magnetic bearing is configured to selectively position the rotor relative to the stator in an axial direction.

Various contactless bearing mechanisms including hydrodynamic and magnetic bearings are provided for a rotary pump as alternatives to mechanical contact bearings. In one embodiment, a pump apparatus includes a pump housing defining a pumping chamber. The housing has a spindle extending into the pumping chamber. A spindle magnet assembly includes first and second magnets disposed within the spindle. The first and second magnets are arranged proximate each other with their respective magnetic vectors opposing each other. The lack of mechanical contact bearings enables longer life pump operation and less damage to working fluids such as blood.

This invention is directed to a corrosion resistant permanent magnet, to a method for producing a corrosion resistant permanent magnet, and to an intravascular blood pump comprising the magnet. The magnet is corrosion resistant due to a composite coating comprising a metal layer, optionally a metal oxide layer, a layer formed from poly(2-chloro-p-xylylene), and a linker layer between the metal oxide layer and the poly(2-chloro-p-xylylene) layer.

Various aspects of the present disclosure are directed toward apparatuses, systems, and methods that may include a magnetic drive system of a blood pump. The magnetic drive system may include a drive shaft coupled to an impeller, a driven magnet assembly coupled to at least one of the drive shaft and the impeller, and a driving coil assembly configured to drive the driven magnet assembly.

An electric machine comprises a rotor from which a magnetic field emanates and a stator that produces a magnetic field that interacts with the magnetic field emanating from the rotor. The stator comprising a pair of windings symmetrically positioned with respect to the rotor. A displacement of the rotor causes an increase in magnitude of a magnetic flux induced by the rotor in one winding of the pair of windings and a decrease in magnitude of a magnetic flux induced by the rotor in the other winding of the pair of windings. A driver can make the electric machine operate in an active electromagnetic bearing mode and in a passive electromagnetic bearing mode. In the active electromagnetic bearing mode, the driver applies a suspension signal component to at least one winding of the pair of windings. This causes the magnetic field produced by the stator to have a component that exerts a suspension force on the rotor through interaction with the magnetic field emanating from the rotor. In the passive electromagnetic bearing mode, the driver interconnects the pair of windings of the stator with each other so that the increase in magnitude of the magnetic flux in the one winding and the decrease in magnitude in the other winding of the pair of windings generates a suspension current in the pair of windings. The suspension current causes the magnetic field produced by the stator to have a component that exerts a restoring force on the rotor counteracting the displacement.

Various contactless bearing mechanisms including hydrodynamic and magnetic bearings are provided for a rotary pump as alternatives to mechanical contact bearings. In one embodiment, a pump apparatus includes a pump housing defining a pumping chamber. The housing has a spindle extending into the pumping chamber. A spindle magnet assembly includes first and second magnets disposed within the spindle. The first and second magnets are arranged proximate each other with their respective magnetic vectors opposing each other. The lack of mechanical contact bearings enables longer life pump operation and less damage to working fluids such as blood.

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.