Methods are provided for controlling the speed of a pump based on a valve state index and/or for deriving a valve state from time-series signal representing a pressure difference or a flow rate. The methods may be employed in blood pump systems or in blood pump control systems.

This invention concerns an intravascular blood pump for percutaneous insertion into a patient's blood vessel. The blood pump comprises a pump casing having a blood flow inlet and a blood flow outlet, and an impeller arranged in said pump casing so as to be rotatable about an axis of rotation. The impeller has blades sized and shaped for conveying blood from the blood flow inlet to the blood flow outlet. The blood pump comprises a drive unit for rotating the impeller, the drive unit comprising a plurality of posts arranged about the axis of rotation Each of the posts has an impeller-side end pointing towards the impeller with a front surface facing the impeller. A coil winding is disposed around each of the posts so as to create magnetic field lines running through the front surface of each of the posts and controllable so as to create a rotating magnetic field, wherein the impeller comprises a magnetic structure arranged to interact with the rotating magnetic field so as to cause rotation of the impeller. The front surface of at least one of the posts comprises a concavity in which the front surface is inclined downwards towards a central area of the front surface so as to concentrate at least a part of the magnetic field lines running through the front surface.

This invention concerns an intravascular blood pump for percutaneous insertion into a patient's blood vessel. The blood pump comprises a pump casing having a blood flow inlet and a blood flow outlet, and an impeller arranged in said pump casing so as to be rotatable about an axis of rotation. The impeller has blades sized and shaped for conveying blood from the blood flow inlet to the blood flow outlet. The blood pump comprises a drive unit for rotating the impeller, the drive unit comprising a plurality of posts arranged about the axis of rotation Each of the posts has an impeller-side end pointing towards the impeller with a front surface facing the impeller. A coil winding is disposed around each of the posts so as to create magnetic field lines running through the front surface of each of the posts and controllable so as to create a rotating magnetic field, wherein the impeller comprises a magnetic structure arranged to interact with the rotating magnetic field so as to cause rotation of the impeller. The front surface of at least one of the posts comprises a concavity in which the front surface is inclined downwards towards a central area of the front surface so as to concentrate at least a part of the magnetic field lines running through the front surface.

A cardiac pump (1) comprising a cardiac pump housing (7), a cardiac pump rotor (8), and a bearing assembly (23), the bearing assembly (23) being configured to support the cardiac pump rotor (8) within the cardiac pump housing (7) for rotation about a rotational axis (A-A) of the rotor (8), wherein the cardiac pump rotor (8) comprises a tip profile having rotational variance about the rotational axis (A-A).

A cardiac pump (1) comprising a cardiac pump housing (7), a cardiac pump rotor (8), and a bearing assembly (23), the bearing assembly (23) being configured to support the cardiac pump rotor (8) within the cardiac pump housing (7) for rotation about a rotational axis (A-A) of the rotor (8), wherein the cardiac pump rotor (8) comprises a tip profile having rotational variance about the rotational axis (A-A).

A method of controlling an implantable blood pump including a housing having a proximal portion including an inlet, a distal portion including an outlet, and an impeller therein, the method including detecting when a pressure in the housing exceeds a pressure threshold and executing a first vector control command to displace the impeller axially in a distal direction from a primary position to a secondary position different than the primary position in response to the pressure exceeding the pressure threshold.

A method of controlling an implantable blood pump including a housing having a proximal portion including an inlet, a distal portion including an outlet, and an impeller therein, the method including detecting when a pressure in the housing exceeds a pressure threshold and executing a first vector control command to displace the impeller axially in a distal direction from a primary position to a secondary position different than the primary position in response to the pressure exceeding the pressure threshold.

A pump may include a stator, a rotor, and an impeller. The stator may include one or more electromagnets and one or more permanent magnets. The rotor may include an armature, one or more complementary permanent magnets, and a pull magnet configured to position the rotor in an axial direction. The rotor may be disposed within the stator. The complementary permanent magnets and the one or more permanent magnets of the stator may create magnetic bearings. The armature may be aligned with at least one of the electromagnets of the stator and configured to rotate the rotor with respect to the stator. The impeller may be coupled to the rotor.

A pump may include a stator, a rotor, and an impeller. The stator may include one or more electromagnets and one or more permanent magnets. The rotor may include an armature, one or more complementary permanent magnets, and a pull magnet configured to position the rotor in an axial direction. The rotor may be disposed within the stator. The complementary permanent magnets and the one or more permanent magnets of the stator may create magnetic bearings. The armature may be aligned with at least one of the electromagnets of the stator and configured to rotate the rotor with respect to the stator. The impeller may be coupled to the rotor.

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.