BLOOD PUMP WITH MICROMOTOR

Abstract

The invention relates to a micromotor (10), the stator of which contains a back iron jacket (18). Said back iron jacket consists of a continuous unslotted sleeve consisting of a metal alloy that contains ferritic iron as the main constituent, up to 30% chromium and preferably aluminium and yttrium oxide. Electric conductivity is reduced by the oxidation of the aluminium. The yttrium oxide performs the same function. The reduced electric conductivity suppresses eddy currents to a great extent. The back iron jacket (18) has a high magnetic conductivity with a small wall thickness, thus increasing the electrical output for a motor with a small diameter.

Claims

1.-8. (canceled)

9. A blood pump sized for intravascular insertion, the blood pump comprising: a micromotor; and a stator, wherein the stator comprises: a shell containing an exciter coil; and a magnetic-reflux jacket surrounding the shell continuously, wherein the magnetic-reflux jacket is unslotted and is made of a magnetically conductive material, wherein the magnetically conductive material is a ferritic alloy comprising iron as the main component, from 17 wt. % to 30 wt. % chromium, and from 3 wt. % to 8 wt. % aluminum.

10. The blood pump of claim 9, wherein the ferritic alloy further comprises 0.3 wt. % to 2 wt. % yttrium oxide.

11. The blood pump of claim 9, wherein the ferritic alloy comprises up to 0.2 wt. % copper.

12. The blood pump of claim 9, wherein the ferritic alloy comprises no copper.

13. The blood pump of claim 9, wherein the ferritic alloy has a crystalline structure.

14. The blood pump of claim 9, wherein the ferritic alloy comprises iron as the main component and the following components: TABLE-US-00002 chromium  18.5%-21.50% aluminum 3.75%-5.75% titanium 0.20%-0.60% yttrium oxide 0.30%-0.70% carbon up to 0.10 wt. % copper up to 0.15 wt. % manganese up to 0.30 wt. % cobalt up to 0.30 wt. % nickel up to 0.50 wt. % phosphorous up to 0.02 wt. %

15. The blood pump of claim 9, wherein the magnetic-reflux jacket reduces electric conductivity of the blood pump compared to a magnetic-reflux jacket having one or more slot.

16. The blood pump of claim 9, wherein the magnetic-reflux jacket has an outer diameter of up to 4.6 mm and an inner diameter of at least 3.3 mm.

17. The blood pump of claim 9, wherein the magnetic-reflux jacket has a length of about 12 mm.

18. The blood pump of claim 9, wherein the magnetic-reflux jacket has windows on its proximal end.

19. The blood pump of claim 9, wherein the magnetic-reflux jacket is connected to a housing of the blood pump by a welding seam.

20. The blood pump of claim 9, further comprising a pump portion axially following the micromotor, wherein the pump portion comprises an impeller fastened to a shaft, and wherein the impeller is arranged for rotation within a housing of the blood pump.

21. The blood pump of claim 20, wherein the impeller has a rotational speed of from 30,000 rpm to 60,000 rpm during operation of the blood pump.

Description

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF DRAWINGS

[0021] In the drawings, the following is shown:

[0022] FIG. 1 is a side view of a pump with micromotor,

[0023] FIG. 2 is a longitudinal sectional view through FIG. 1, and

[0024] FIG. 3 is a cross-sectional view taken along of FIG. 2.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

[0025] The blood pump depicted in the Figures largely corresponds to the one according to WO 02/41935 A1. The pump comprises a micromotor 10 axially followed by a pump portion 11. Pump portion 11 includes an impeller 12 fastened to a shaft 13 and arranged for rotation within a tubular pump housing 14.

[0026] Micromotor 10 comprises a stator 15 and a rotor 16 connected to shaft 13. Stator 15 consists of a tubular shell 17 and a magnetic-reflux jacket 18 tightly surrounding said shell 17. Rotor 16 includes a magnet 19, with its north pole N and its south pole S arranged on diametrically opposite positions on the circumference. Magnet 19 is fastened to a shaft 13. Shaft 13 is supported on its rear end within shell 17 by means of a ball bearing 20 and, on its front end facing towards impeller 12, within a sealed bearing 21.

[0027] The rear end of stator 15 is followed by a transition portion 22 adapted for connecting of a catheter 25 to it. Wires 23 extend through transition piece 22 and connect to exciter coils 24 internally of the shell. Flowing through exciter coil 24 is an externally controlled alternating current whose frequency determines the rotational speed of the motor. The shell 17 accommodating the exciter coils 24 consists of a substantially 0.2 mm thick plastic layer with embedded wires. The wires are wound in two layers according to a predetermined configuration. Between stator 15 and rotor 16, a small gap exists, dimensioned in an order of magnitude of the tenth of a millimeter.

[0028] Magnetic-reflux jacket 18 consists of a one-pieced, tubular, unslotted shell. Simultaneously, it forms the outer skin of the micromotor. If required, it can also be covered by an additional plastic layer.

[0029] Magnetic-reflux jacket 18 tightly surrounds shell 17 containing the exciter coils 24.

[0030] The wall thickness of the magnetic-reflux jacket is about 0.25 mm, the outer diameter is 4 mm and the inner diameter is 3.45 mm. The length of magnetic-reflux jacket 18 is about 12 mm.

[0031] Back iron jacket 18 is axially continued in the form of webs 30 extending from the front end of the micromotor in the forward direction and integrally merging into the wall of pump housing 14. Thus, pump housing 14 is connected in one piece to magnetic-reflux jacket 18 by welding and thus can be made of a different weldable material. Therefore, the materials for the reflux of the motor and for the pump housing can each be optimally adapted to the individual requirements posed to them. This means that the pump housing 14 can have the same outer diameter as magnetic-reflux jacket 18 and a different inner diameter from that of magnetic-reflux jacket 18. In the present embodiment, the webs 30 are arranged parallel to the axis of the micromotor so that already as few as three webs will create a connection with sufficient stiffness against bending.

[0032] The openings 31 left between the webs 30 form the outlet opening of the pump, and the end-side opening 32 of pump housing 14 forms the inlet opening of the pump. The pump can also be driven in reverse direction so that said openings 31 form the inlet and said opening 32 forms the outlet.

[0033] According to a preferred embodiment, magnetic-reflux jacket 18 is made of a material distributed by Special Metals Corporation under the trademark INCOLOY MA956. This material contains the composition listed hereunder:

TABLE-US-00001 iron balance chromium 18.5%-21.5% aluminum 3.75%-5.75% titanium 0.2%-0.6% carbon  0.1%, max. yttrium oxide 0.3%-0.7% copper 0.15% max. manganese 0.30% max. cobalt  0.3% max. nickel 0.50% max. phosphorous 0.02% max.

[0034] From this material, there will first be produced a cylindrical shell which has the shape and size of the later magnetic-reflux jacket, and said shell will be preferably tempered for several hours at about 1100.degree. C. while subjected to oxygen. In the process, the aluminum at the grain boundaries will partially oxidize to aluminum oxide and will distribute itself between the grain boundaries and along the surfaces of the shell. Thereafter, the shell surfaces will be provided with a thin insulating ceramic layer.

[0035] The shell formed by magnetic-reflux jacket 18 is formed with windows 33 on its proximal end. On the distal end, a welding seam 35 is arranged, connecting the magnetic-reflux jacket to pump housing 14.

[0036] Transition portion 22, which is made of plastic, is provided with integrally formed knobs 34 extending into the windows 33 and filling them in formlocking engagement. In this manner, there is achieved a stable connection to the catheter on the rear. Said windows 33 and the webs arranged therebetween are suitably located relative to the ball bearing 20 to the effect that a spreading of the magnetic field lines into the ball bearing is avoided. Also eddy currents in the bearing, which possibly could cause a reduction of the useful life, will be avoided in a corresponding manner.

[0037] In comparison to a magnetic-reflux jacket of the slotted type, the invention achieves an improvement of the magnetic properties of the magnetic-reflux jacket by introducing a larger quantity of iron material into the reflux. Thereby, the efficiency of the motor is improved. For a given desired hydraulic performance of the blood pump, the motor volume or the required motor current can be reduced.

[0038] A further advantage of the metal alloy resides in that the material of the magnetic-reflux jacket is weldable. This is beneficial in the assembly process for the motor.

[0039] The magnetic-reflux jacket has the following properties: [0040] ferritic [0041] high magnetic flux density [0042] poor electric conductivity [0043] corrosion resistance [0044] weldability