BLOOD PUMP

Abstract

This invention relates to an intravascular blood pump, comprising a pumping device with a pump casing having a primary blood flow inlet and a primary blood flow outlet which are hydraulically connected by a primary blood flow passage, a primary impeller with an upstream end and a downstream end being configured to convey a primary blood flow from the primary blood flow inlet to the primary blood flow outlet along the primary blood flow passage, a drive unit configured to rotate the primary impeller about an axis of rotation, an impeller bearing supporting the upstream end of the primary impeller, a central opening extending axially through the impeller bearing, and at least one secondary blood flow passage in the primary impeller, the at least one secondary blood flow passage having a secondary blood flow inlet in axial alignment with the central opening of the impeller bearing and each of the at least one secondary blood flow passage having a secondary blood flow outlet, wherein at least one secondary blood flow passage is configured to convey a secondary blood flow from the secondary blood flow inlet to the secondary blood flow outlet, and wherein the secondary blood flow outlet connects the at least one secondary blood flow passage to the primary blood flow passage at a location axially between the upstream and downstream ends of the primary impeller.

Claims

1. An intravascular blood pump comprising: a pumping device comprising: a pump casing having a primary blood flow inlet and a primary blood flow outlet which are hydraulically connected by a primary blood flow passage; a primary impeller having an upstream end and a downstream end and being configured to convey a primary blood flow from the primary blood flow inlet to the primary blood flow outlet along the primary blood flow passage; a drive unit configured to rotate the primary impeller about an axis of rotation; an impeller bearing supporting the upstream end of the primary impeller; a central opening axially extending through the impeller bearing; and at least one secondary blood flow passage in the primary impeller, the at least one secondary blood flow passage having a secondary blood flow inlet in axial alignment with the central opening of the impeller bearing and each of the at least one secondary blood flow passage having a secondary blood flow outlet, wherein the at least one secondary blood flow passage is configured to convey a secondary blood flow from the secondary blood flow inlet to the secondary blood flow outlet, and wherein the secondary blood flow outlet connects the at least one secondary blood flow passage to the primary blood flow passage at a location axially between the upstream and downstream ends of the primary impeller.

2. The intravascular blood pump according to claim 1, wherein the central opening defines an outer impeller bearing surface of the impeller bearing, by which the primary impeller is rotatably supported.

3. The intravascular blood pump according to claim 1, wherein the primary blood flow inlet is separated from the secondary blood flow inlet by a non-rotating inflow separator, the inflow separator forming the outer impeller bearing surface of the impeller bearing.

4. The intravascular blood pump according to claim 3, wherein the inflow separator comprises an impeller bearing ring as a separate component forming the outer impeller bearing surface of the impeller bearing.

5. The intravascular blood pump according to claim 3, wherein the inflow separator is supported by at least one and preferably three struts extending across the primary blood flow inlet.

6. The intravascular blood pump according to claim 5, wherein the at least one strut connects the inflow separator to the pump casing.

7. The intravascular blood pump according to claim 3, wherein the inflow separator comprises at least one cut-out at a downstream end of the inflow separator.

8. The intravascular blood pump according to claim 3, wherein the inflow separator has at least one cut-out in the outer impeller bearing surface.

9. The intravascular blood pump according to claim 2, wherein one or more of the at least one secondary blood flow passage defines an edge moving over the outer impeller bearing surface upon rotation of the primary impeller so as to clean the outer impeller bearing surface.

10. The intravascular blood pump according to claim 1, wherein the impeller bearing is a sliding bearing.

11. The intravascular blood pump according to claim 10, wherein the impeller bearing is a blood purged sliding bearing.

12. The intravascular blood pump according to claim 1, wherein a center of area of the primary blood flow inlet is arranged in the separated secondary blood flow inlet.

13. The intravascular blood pump according to claim 1, wherein one secondary blood flow inlet of the at least one secondary blood flow passage is arranged at a position of the axis of rotation.

14. The intravascular blood pump according to claim 1, wherein a secondary channel intake forming part of the at least one secondary blood flow passage is arranged upstream of a primary channel intake forming part of a primary impeller channel in the primary blood flow passage.

15. The intravascular blood pump according to claim 1, wherein the primary impeller comprises at least one blade which has a primary pitch at the upstream end of the primary impeller and wherein the at least one secondary blood flow passage has a secondary pitch, the secondary pitch being approximately or exactly the same as the primary pitch.

16. The intravascular blood pump according to claim 1, wherein an exactly one of the at least one secondary blood flow passage has an upstream end arranged at a position of the axis of rotation.

17. The intravascular blood pump according to claim 1, comprising at least two secondary blood flow passages that are arranged asymmetrically in regard to the axis of rotation.

18. The intravascular blood pump according to claim 1, comprising at least two secondary blood flow passages that are arranged opposite to each other in regard to the axis of rotation.

19. The intravascular blood pump according to claim 1, comprising exactly two secondary blood flow passages.

20. The intravascular blood pump according to claim 1, wherein the primary impeller comprises an inlay in which the at least one secondary blood flow passage is formed.

Description

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0034] The a foregoing summary as well as the following detailed description of preferred embodiments will be better understood when read in conjunction with the appendant drawings. The scope of the disclosure is not limited, however, to the specific embodiments disclosed in the drawings. In the drawings:

[0035] FIG. 1 shows a cross section of a first embodiment of a blood pump according to the invention,

[0036] FIG. 2 shows a part of FIG. 1 with the pump section in an enlarged view,

[0037] FIG. 3 shows a part of FIG. 1 with the drive section in an enlarged view,

[0038] FIG. 4 shows a perspective view toward the pump section end of the first embodiment of the blood pump,

[0039] FIG. 5 essentially shows the view of FIG. 4, but with a transparent pump casing,

[0040] FIG. 6 essentially shows the same view as FIG. 5, but of a second embodiment of the blood pump,

[0041] FIG. 7 shows a perspective view of an embodiment of the secondary impeller,

[0042] FIG. 8 shows a perspective view of a separator ring of the first embodiment of the blood pump,

[0043] FIG. 9 shows a perspective view of a separator ring of the second embodiment of the blood pump,

[0044] FIG. 10 shows a cross section of the drive section end of the blood pump in a perspective view depicting an ancillary impeller,

[0045] FIG. 11A shows a perspective view of the ancillary impeller and of a rotor bearing ring,

[0046] FIG. 11B shows a perspective view of a rotor bearing ring having cut-outs, and

[0047] FIG. 12 shows a perspective view of a tertiary impeller of the first or the second embodiment.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

[0048] In FIG. 1, a cross sectional view of a first embodiment of an intravascular blood pump is illustrated. Rotating parts are not shown cut. The intravascular blood pump 1 comprises a pumping device 11 and a supply line in the form of a catheter 5 attached thereto.

[0049] The pumping device 11 comprises a pump casing 2 of substantially cylindrical form, at least in an intermediate section thereof. The pump casing 2 comprises a blood flow inlet 21 and a blood flow outlet 22. In FIG. 1, the pump casing 2 seems to comprise two separate sections, but these sections are either integral or connected to form a single piece.

[0050] As can be better seen in the enlarged representation of the pump section shown in FIG. 2, together with the front perspective views depicted in FIGS. 4 and 5, the blood flow inlet 21 comprises a primary blood flow inlet 211 and a secondary blood flow inlet 212. The primary blood flow inlet 211 surrounds the secondary blood flow inlet 212. The primary blood flow inlet 211 and the secondary blood flow inlet 212 are separated by an inflow separator 26. Inside the inflow separator 26, the inflow separator 26 comprises an impeller bearing ring 27, which is separately shown in FIG. 8. Further, the pumping device 11 comprises a primary impeller 31 which has integrated therein a secondary impeller 32. The primary and secondary impellers 31, 32 are rotatable together about an axis of rotation 10. The secondary impeller 32 may, as shown in FIG. 7, have the form of an inlay and may be arranged inside a secondary impeller cavity 312 of the primary impeller 31. The secondary impeller cavity 312 is open toward a pump section end PSE of the pumping device 11. Alternatively, the primary and secondary impellers 31, 32 are integrally formed.

[0051] A primary blood flow 1BF flows from the primary blood flow inlet 211 to the primary impeller 31 outside of the inflow separator 26 to be conveyed further by the primary impeller 31 through a primary blood flow passage 30 to the primary blood flow outlet 22. A secondary blood flow 2BF flows from the secondary blood flow inlet 212 through the inflow separator 26 to the secondary impeller 32 to be conveyed further by the secondary impeller 32 through a plurality of secondary blood flow passages 321 to the primary blood flow passage 30.

[0052] Thus, a blood stream arriving at the pumping device 11 at the pump section end, preferably about almost the whole cross section of the pumping device 11, can flow into the primary and secondary blood flow inlets 211, 212 without significant deflection. Because of the central position of the secondary blood flow inlet 212, also blood from the middle of the blood stream can enter the pumping device 11 without deflection. This is advantageous because usually a blood stream is a laminar flow in which the flow velocity is greatest in the center.

[0053] The primary impeller 31 comprises primary impeller vanes 313 which extend into the primary blood flow passage 30 and between which primary impeller channels 311 are arranged. The primary impeller channels 311 have a primary pitch at a primary channel intake 314 at each end of the primary impeller channels 311 toward the pump section end PSE. The secondary impeller 32 comprises at least one and particularly exactly two secondary blood flow passages 321 in channel form, which are therefore referred to hereinafter also as secondary impeller channels 321 (see also FIG. 7). The secondary impeller channels 321 have a secondary pitch at a secondary channel intake 324 which is arranged at an upstream end of the secondary impeller channel 321. The secondary pitch is preferably the same as the primary pitch or may vary to a certain degree as long as undesirable flow conditions, such as turbulences, are prevented. At an end of the secondary impeller 32 toward a drive section end DSE, a connecting breakthrough 315 between the secondary impeller cavity 312 and one of the primary blood flow passages 311 is arranged. An end of this breakthrough 315 in the direction of the blood flow defines the secondary blood flow outlet 213. The secondary blood flow outlet 213 is arranged further radially outward in regard to the axis of rotation 10. Therefore, blood is forced outward in a radial direction by centrifugal forces caused by the rotation of the secondary impeller 32. In this way, the secondary blood flow 2BF is conveyed through the secondary blood flow inlet 212 and further through the secondary impeller channel 321 of the secondary impeller 32 and unites with the primary blood flow 1BF flowing through the primary impeller channel 311 of the primary impeller 31. In this way, a pumped blood flow PBF is formed. The pumped blood flow PBF leaves the pumping device 11 at the blood flow outlet 22.

[0054] The primary and secondary impellers 31, 32 are jointly mounted in an impeller bearing 37. They are connected via the secondary impeller cavity 312 or integrally formed as one single piece. The inflow separator 26 comprises an impeller bearing ring 27 arranged inside the inflow separator 26. An outer impeller bearing surface 277 of the impeller bearing 37 is arranged at the inside of the impeller bearing ring 27. The impeller bearing 37 further comprises an inner impeller bearing surface 327 which is arranged at an outer circumference of the secondary impeller 32.

[0055] The primary impeller 31 is fixedly connected to a tapered section 314 leading to the blood flow outlet 22. The tapered section 314 directs the pumped blood flow PBF in a direction radially outward in regard to the axis of rotation 10. The blood then reaches the blood flow outlet 22.

[0056] From the tapered section 314 in a direction toward the pump section end PSE, a drive section 4 is arranged inside the pump casing 2 of the pumping device 11, which comprises a stator 40 and a rotor 41. Between the stator 40 and the rotor 41, an axial gap 401 is arranged. In order to cool the stator 40 and the rotor 41, the axial gap 401 is blood-purged. For this, an ancillary blood flow ABF enters the drive section 4 through an ancillary blood flow inlet 23 arranged at the drive section end DSE. The blood is then conveyed by an ancillary impeller 42 through an ancillary pump gap 423 which is arranged between the ancillary impeller 42 and an inner wall of the pump casing 2. From there, the blood continues to flow into the axial gap 401. From the axial gap 401, the ancillary blood flow ABF enters a radial gap 241. At the radial outer end of the radial gap 241, an ancillary blood flow outlet 24 is arranged. The ancillary blood flow ABF flows in the axially gap 401 in a direction opposite to the pumping direction of the primary and secondary impellers 31, 32. The ancillary blood flow ABF inside the drive section 4 also flows substantially in an opposite direction to a general blood flow GBF flowing around the blood pump 1.

[0057] As can be better seen in reference to the enlarged representation shown in FIG. 3, a rotor bearing ring 43 surrounds the ancillary impeller 42. The ancillary impeller 42 comprises ancillary impeller vanes 421. The ancillary impeller vanes 421 protrude in a direction of the axis of rotation 10 toward the drive section end DSE of the pumping device 11. A radial rotor bearing 47 is arranged at the drive section end DSE and comprises an outer rotor bearing surface 4211 and an inner rotor bearing surface 4311, between which an axially extending bearing gap is arranged. The outer rotor bearing surface 4311 is arranged on the rotor bearing ring 43. Blood conveyed by the ancillary impeller 42 flows through the bearing gap and further to the axial gap 401 between the rotor 41 and the stator 40. From the axial gap 401, the blood flows to a radial gap 241. The radial gap 241 extends between the tapered section 314 of the primary impeller 31 and the stator 40. An ancillary blood flow outlet 24 is arranged at the transition between the radial gap 241 and the surrounding of the pumping device 11. The ancillary blood flow outlet 24 is arranged perpendicularly to the axis of rotation 10. Here, the blood from the ancillary blood flow ABF unites with the pumped blood flow PBF from the pump section 2 and the surrounding general blood flow GBF. When the ancillary blood flow outlet 24 is, as shown, arranged close to the outer diameter of the pump casing 2 and close to the primary blood flow outlet 22, the pumped blood flow PBF and the general blood flow GBF support the drawing of blood out of the radial gap 241 because of their flow velocity. This enhances the ancillary blood flow ABF through the axial gap 401.

[0058] At a center of the ancillary impeller 42, through which the axis of rotation 10 extends, and at a side of the ancillary impeller 42 opposite to the rotor 41, a hump 422 is arranged. In a direction of the axis of rotation 10 toward the drive section end DSE and adjacent to the hump 422, a bearing pin 44 is arranged. The bearing pin 44 is connected to the pump casing 2. An axial bearing surface of the bearing pin 44 toward the ancillary impeller 42 has a convex shape. The axis of rotation 10 runs through an apex of the axial bearing surface of the bearing pin 44 and through an apex of the axial bearing surface of the hump 422. In this way, the bearing pin 44 interacts with the hump 422 and forms a thrust bearing in order to transmit axial forces in regard to the axis of rotation between the hump 422 and the bearing pin 44, wherein the aforementioned parts are rotatable relative to each other. Obviously, the contact surface is small, such that rotational friction is low.

[0059] The drive section end of the blood pump 1 comprises one or more, preferably three, ancillary inlet through-holes 231. The ancillary inlet through-holes 231 extend from the ancillary blood flow inlet 23 to an ancillary impeller cavity 232 in which the ancillary impeller 42 is arranged. Thus, the blood flows from the ancillary blood flow inlet 23 to the ancillary impeller 42 via the ancillary inlet through-hole 231.

[0060] At least one wire through-hole 25 is arranged at the drive section end DSE of the pumping device 11. The wire through-holes 25 may extend from the catheter 5 to the stator 40. Preferably, three wire through-holes 25 are arranged about the axis of rotation 10. Between two ancillary inlet through-holes 231, one wire through-hole 25 may be arranged. In a wire through-hole 25, at least one supply line 51, 52 and/or 53 may extend to be connected to the stator 40. Preferably, as shown, the supply wires 51, 52 and/or 53 extend through the inside of the catheter 5 to the outside of the patient's body. The supply wires 51, 52 and/or 53 run from the catheter 5 to the stator 40 without contact to blood.

[0061] FIG. 4 shows a perspective front view on the pump section end PSE of the pump section 3. As is shown, the secondary impeller 32 is arranged inside the impeller bearing ring 27. The impeller bearing ring 27 is arranged inside the inflow separator 26. Alternatively to this embodiment, the additional impeller bearing ring 27 can be omitted such that the outer impeller bearing surface 277 is formed by the inflow separator 26. Here, the inflow separator 26 is mounted between the primary blood flow 1BF and the secondary blood flow 2BF by three struts 28. It is shown that the secondary blood flow 2BF flows into the secondary impeller 32 through the secondary blood flow inlet 212 which is arranged at an inflow into the impeller bearing ring 27. In the secondary impeller 32, the blood flows along the secondary impeller channel 321 and through the through-opening 315 to the secondary blood flow outlet 213. Here, the secondary blood flow 2BF unites with the primary blood flow 1BF to form the pumped blood flow PBF.

[0062] FIG. 5 shows the pump section end PSE of the pump section 3 in a perspective view, wherein the pump casing 2 is shown in transparency. It is visible that through-opening 315 and the secondary blood flow outlet 213 are arranged between two primary impeller vanes 313. As shown, the struts 28 are connected by an outer strut connection ring 29. The strut connection ring 29 is arranged inside an inner circumferential surface of the pump casing 2 at the pump section end PSE. The impeller bearing ring 27 is supported by the struts 28. It is conceivable to manufacture the strut connection ring 29 and the struts 28 as one piece. Preferably, also the impeller bearing ring 27 is a part of this piece. Said piece may also be formed in one piece with the pump casing 2.

[0063] FIG. 6 shows a perspective view of the pump section end PSE of the pump section 3 in which the pump casing 2 is shown in transparency. Different from the embodiment shown in FIGS. 3 to 5, the inflow separator 26 comprises at least one, preferably three, cut-outs 261 at a downstream end of the inflow separator 26. The cut-out 261 is arranged between two struts 28. The impeller bearing ring 27 is part of and fixedly connected to the inflow separator 26, and the cut-out 261 also extends through the impeller bearing ring 27. Due to the cut-out 261, the secondary impeller channel 321 has an increased cross section when it aligns with the cut-out 261 during rotation of the secondary impeller. The secondary impeller 32 extends inside the impeller bearing ring 27 in a direction toward the pump section end PSE maximally up to an end of the cut-out 261. This has the effect that, in operation, an edge of the cut-out 261 runs over the inner impeller bearing surface 327 and removes blood clots at the beginning of their formation or preferably prevents their formation, since the mating part of the rotating axial thrust bearing surface 328 is in direct blood contact at the cut-out 261. This helps to avoid stagnant blood within the axial thrust bearing. Also the inner impeller bearing surface 327 has edges 325, as can be seen in FIG. 7, which have the effect to remove blood clots from the outer impeller bearing surface 277 (FIGS. 8 and 9).

[0064] FIG. 7 shows the secondary impeller 32 in detail in a perspective view. There, the secondary impeller 32 is configured as an inlay and has roughly the form of a cylinder. It may be made of different material as the primary impeller 31, for instance of a ceramic material. The inlay comprises a cylindrical section 323 which is arranged inside the secondary impeller cavity 312 of the primary impeller 21. A circumferential protrusion 329 forms an axial stop for the secondary impeller 32 in the secondary impeller cavity 312. The inner impeller bearing surface 327 is arranged at an outer circumference of the secondary impeller 32. Two secondary impeller channels 321 are arranged at the end of the secondary impeller 32 toward the pump section end PSE. The secondary impeller channels 321 have their largest cross section at the upstream end of the secondary impeller 32. Thus, the channels 321 decrease in cross section away from the blood flow inlet 21. In this way, blood is directed from a mainly axial direction to an axial-radial direction when it flows through the secondary impeller channel 321.

[0065] The secondary impeller channels 321 are arranged asymmetrically in regard to the axis of rotation 10 of the secondary impeller 32. At an end of the secondary impeller 32 directed toward the blood flow inlet 21, the axis of rotation 10 extends through one of the secondary impeller channels 321. In this way, the center of rotation, which is located at the axis of rotation 10, does not coincide with a solid part of the secondary impeller 32. This has the advantage that blood clotting at the center of rotation, where no differential velocity to neighboring blood flow is present, can be avoided.

[0066] At the transition between the secondary impeller channels 321 and the inner impeller bearing surface 327, edges 325 are arranged. As mentioned above, such edges 325 serve to push away formations of blood clotting on the outer impeller bearing surface 277. The inner impeller bearing surface 327 provides an inner surface of a radial bearing at the pump section end PSE. The secondary impeller 32 further comprises an axial impeller bearing surface 328. It is arranged at the circumferential protrusion 329. The axial impeller bearing surface 328 foul's a part of the above-mentioned axial stop or axial thrust bearing. The axial stop may be configured as an axial bearing which is capable of transmitting forces from the secondary impeller 32 to the bearing ring 27 during rotation of the impeller. The axial bearing is necessary to counter the axial force which stems from the purging action of the impeller.

[0067] FIG. 8 shows an enlarged view of the impeller bearing ring 27. The outer impeller bearing surface 277 is arranged at the inside of the impeller bearing ring 27. The impeller bearing ring 27 comprises an axial bearing ring surface 278. As shown, the axial bearing ring surface 278 may be arranged at an axial end of the impeller bearing ring 27.

[0068] FIG. 9 shows a perspective view of an impeller bearing ring 27 according to a further embodiment which differs from the embodiment shown in FIG. 8 in that it comprises the cut-outs 261, as previously mentioned, which are arranged at a downstream end of the impeller bearing ring 27. The number of cut-outs 261 preferably matches the number of struts 28.

[0069] FIG. 10 shows a perspective view of a cross section through the drive section end DSE of the drive section 4. Rotating parts are not shown cut. As shown, the ancillary blood flow ABF enters the pump casing 2 at the ancillary blood flow inlet 23. The ancillary impeller 42 accelerates the blood, which continues to flow into the axial gap 401. As is shown by the arrow ABF inside the axial gap 401, the blood does not flow directly in the direction of the axis of rotation 10, but rather has a strong circumferential flow component so that it flows along the axial gap 401 along helices.

[0070] FIG. 11 shows a perspective view of an end of the rotor 41 at the drive section end DSE of the pumping device 11. The ancillary vanes 421 of the ancillary impeller 42 are clearly recognizable, and they extend straight in a radial direction. The ancillary impeller vanes 421 provide, at their outer circumference, the inner rotor bearing surface 4211 of the radial rotor bearing 47. Further, the ancillary impeller vanes 421 each have a chamfer 4212. This chamfer 4212 is advantageous in order to build a tapered drive section end DSE of the pumping device 11 as shown in FIG. 10. Further, the ancillary impeller vanes 421 comprise radially extending end surfaces 4214 at an axial end of the secondary impeller 42. A hump 422 is formed at the center of the axial end of the secondary impeller 42. The hump 422 interacts with the bearing pin 44, as shown in FIG. 10.

[0071] FIG. 11A further shows the rotor bearing ring 43 to be arranged around the inner rotor bearing surface 4211 of the secondary impeller 42. The outer rotor bearing surface 4311 of the rotor bearing ring 43 forms the rotor bearing 47 together with the inner rotor bearing surface 4211 of the ancillary impeller 42. The ancillary impeller 42 has an axial Length L and a diameter D. Alternatively, as shown in FIG. 11B, the rotor bearing ring 43 may have cut-outs with a form, function and arrangement similar to the cut-outs 261 of above-described impeller bearing ring 27.

[0072] FIG. 12 shows in a perspective view an end of the rotor 41 connected to the tapered section 314 of the primary impeller 31. A tertiary impeller 242 is arranged between the tapered section 314 and the pump section end of the rotor 41, and extends radially from an outer diameter of the rotor 41 to an outer diameter of the tapered section 314 to form a shoulder. An axial plane of this shoulder forms a rotatable wall 2411 of the radial gap 24. From the rotatable wall 2411, the tertiary impeller vanes 2412 project toward the drive section end DSE of the pumping device 11. Preferably, the tertiary impeller vanes 2412 extend axially along the axis of rotation 10. Particularly, the tertiary impeller vanes 2412 are straight and extend in a radial direction relative to the axis of rotation 10. Further in the alternative, the tertiary impeller vanes 2412 can be omitted (not shown).