An intravascular blood pump (1) comprises a pump casing (2) having a blood flow inlet (21) and a blood flow outlet (22), and an impeller (3) arranged in said pump casing (2) so as to be rotatable about an axis of rotation, wherein the impeller (3) has blades (31) sized and shaped for conveying blood from the blood flow inlet (21) to the blood flow outlet (22). The blood pump (1) further comprises a drive unit (104) for rotating the impeller (3), the drive unit (104) comprising a plurality of posts (140) arranged about the axis of rotation (10). Coil windings (47) around the posts are sequentially controllable so as to create a rotating magnetic field. The shaft portion (141) of each of the posts (140) comprises a soft magnetic material which is discontinuous in cross-section transverse to the longitudinal axis of the respective post (140).

A temporary, removable mechanical circulatory support heart-assist device has at least two propellers or impellers. Each propeller or impeller has a number of blades arranged around an axis of rotation. The blades are configured to pump blood. The two propellers or impellers rotate in opposite directions from each other. The device can be configured to be implanted and removed with minimally invasive surgery.

A temporary, removable mechanical circulatory support heart-assist device has at least two propellers or impellers. Each propeller or impeller has a number of blades arranged around an axis of rotation. The blades are configured to pump blood. The two propellers or impellers rotate in opposite directions from each other. The device can be configured to be implanted and removed with minimally invasive surgery.

An interventional ventricular assist device (100), including: an interventional tube (10). a motor assembly (30), a perfusion cylinder (40), and an impeller assembly (20). The interventional tube (10) has a liquid inlet (11) and a liquid outlet (12). The impeller assembly (20) includes an impeller (21), accommodated within the interventional tube (10) and rotatable to enable a liquid to flow into the interventional tube (10) via the liquid inlet (11) and out therefrom via the liquid outlet (12). The motor assembly (30) is configured to generate a rotating magnetic field to drive the impeller (21) to rotate and generate an attraction to the impeller (21). A perfusate injected from the perfusion cylinder (40) is adapted to provide a thrust to the impeller assembly (20), whereby the impeller (21) is suspendedly rotatable in the interventional tube (10) under a combined action of the thrust and the attraction.

An interventional ventricular assist device (100), including: an interventional tube (10). a motor assembly (30), a perfusion cylinder (40), and an impeller assembly (20). The interventional tube (10) has a liquid inlet (11) and a liquid outlet (12). The impeller assembly (20) includes an impeller (21), accommodated within the interventional tube (10) and rotatable to enable a liquid to flow into the interventional tube (10) via the liquid inlet (11) and out therefrom via the liquid outlet (12). The motor assembly (30) is configured to generate a rotating magnetic field to drive the impeller (21) to rotate and generate an attraction to the impeller (21). A perfusate injected from the perfusion cylinder (40) is adapted to provide a thrust to the impeller assembly (20), whereby the impeller (21) is suspendedly rotatable in the interventional tube (10) under a combined action of the thrust and the attraction.

A blood pump comprises a pump casing a blood flow inlet and a blood flow outlet connected by a passage, and an impeller. The impeller comprises blades configured to convey blood from the blood flow inlet to the blood flow outlet, the impeller being supported in the pump casing by at least one contact-type bearing comprising a surface of the impeller facing a surface of the pump casing. At least one wash out channel extends through the impeller and is in fluid connection with the passage via a first opening and with the bearing via a second opening. The wash out channel is operatively associated with a secondary pump for pumping blood through the wash out channel towards the bearing. The secondary pump is formed at least partially by said at least one wash out channel extending through the impeller along a direction having at least one tangential directional component.

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 ventricular assist device includes a stent for placement within a cardiac artery and arranged for placement, the stent arranged to have an open configuration defining a flow path, a rotor sized to fit within the stent and arranged for percutaneous placement the flow path, the rotor including a surface disposed about a central portion and angled with respect to the flow path and having a first plurality of magnets. A collar is sized for placement about the cardiac artery and includes a stator. A power source is coupled to the stator, and the stator and the rotor are arranged to rotate the rotor about an axis. A timing control module controls a rotational speed of the rotor. Accordingly, the surface of the rotor is arranged to move blood along the flow path in response to rotation of the rotor.