Methods and systems are provided for the circulation of blood using a purge-free miniature pump. In one embodiment, a pump is provided that may comprise a housing including a rotor and a stator within a drive unit. In this embodiment, the pump may establish a primary blood flow through the space between the drive unit and the housing and a secondary blood flow between the rotor and stator. In another embodiment, a pump establishes a primary blood flow outside the housing and a secondary blood flow between the rotor and stator. In yet another embodiment, a method is provided for introducing the pump into the body and circulating blood using the pump.

A mechanical circulatory assist system includes a continuous-flow pump and a controller. The pump is implantable to assist blood flow from the left ventricle to the aorta The controller is operable to control a rotation speed of the pump over an operational cycle. The operational cycle includes a first segment over which the ventricular assist device is operated at first rotation speed, a second segment over which the rotation speed of the ventricular assist device is decreased from the first rotation speed to a second rotation speed, a third segment over which the ventricular assist device is operated at the second rotation speed, and a fourth segment over which the rotation speed of the ventricular assist device is increased from the second rotation speed. A contraction of the left ventricle that opens and closes the native aortic valve occurs during the third segment.

A ventricular assist device includes a housing assembly with a pressurized inner chamber, an impeller, an electric motor and a distance sensor. The electric motor includes a controller, a stator and a rotor. The stator and the controller are located in the housing assembly, outside of the pressurized inner chamber and are electrically coupled. The impeller and the rotor are located in the pressurized inner chamber and fixedly coupled. The distance sensor is located in the housing assembly, outside of the pressurized inner chamber and electrically coupled to the controller. The distance sensor senses a distance value of the rotor to a cavity wall of the pressurized inner chamber, and further transmits the distance value to the controller. The controller controls a magnetic force between the stator and the rotor according to the distance value, so as to control a suspension and rotation of the rotor.

A rotary machine is provided which may include a rotor and a stator within a housing. The stator may be for generating a rotating magnetic field for applying a torque to the rotor. A commutator circuit may provide a plurality of phase voltages to the stator, and a controller may adjust the plurality of phase voltages provided by the commutator circuit to modify an attractive force of the stator on the rotor to move the rotor 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.

Methods, systems, and devices for a mechanical circulatory support system are disclosed herein. An implantable power supply can be part of a mechanical circulatory support system. The implantable power supply can include one or several energy storage components, a power source, a voltage converter, and an output bus. Power can be provided to the voltage converter from one or both of the power source and the first energy storage component. The voltage converter can convert the voltage of the power from a first voltage to a second voltage and can power the output bus.

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.

Methods, systems, and devices for a mechanical circulatory support system are disclosed herein. An implantable power supply can be part of a mechanical circulatory support system. The implantable power supply can include one or several energy storage components, a power source, a voltage converter, and an output bus. Power can be provided to the voltage converter from one or both of the power source and the first energy storage component. The voltage converter can convert the voltage of the power from a first voltage to a second voltage and can power the output bus.

A heart pump including: a housing forming a cavity including: at least one inlet aligned with an axis of the cavity; and, at least one outlet provided in a circumferential outer wall of the cavity; an impeller provided within the cavity, the impeller including vanes for urging fluid from the inlet to the outlet; and, a drive for rotating the impeller in the cavity and wherein a flow path through the pump has a minimal cross-sectional area of at least 50 mm.sup.2.

A heart pump including a housing defining a cavity including at least one inlet aligned with an axis of the cavity and at least one outlet provided in a circumferential outer wall of the cavity. An impeller is provided within the cavity, the impeller including a rotor and vanes mounted on the rotor for urging fluid from the inlet radially outwardly to the outlet. A drive is provided for rotating the impeller in the cavity, the drive including a plurality of circumferentially spaced permanent drive magnets mounted within and proximate a first face of the rotor, adjacent drive magnets having opposing polarities and a plurality of circumferentially spaced drive coils mounted within the housing proximate a first end of the cavity, each coil being wound on a respective drive stator pole of a drive stator and being substantially radially aligned with the drive magnets, the drive coils being configured to generate a drive magnetic field that cooperates with the drive magnets to thereby rotate the impeller. A magnetic bearing is also provided to thereby at least one of control an axial position of the impeller and at least partially restrain radial movement of the impeller.