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An Implantable Seal‐less Centrifugal Pump with Integrated Double‐Disk Motor
Author(s) -
Schima Heinrich,
Schmallegger Helmut,
Huber Leopold,
Birgmann Irene,
Reindl Christian,
Schmidt Christian,
Roschal Karin,
Wieselthaler Georg,
Trubel Wolfgang,
Losert Udo,
Wolner Ernst
Publication year - 1995
Publication title -
artificial organs
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 0.684
H-Index - 76
eISSN - 1525-1594
pISSN - 0160-564X
DOI - 10.1111/j.1525-1594.1995.tb02395.x
Subject(s) - centrifugal pump , seal (emblem) , mechanical engineering , automotive engineering , materials science , engineering , impeller , art , visual arts
Thrombus formation and sealing problems at the shaft as well as the compact and efficient design of the driving unit have been major difficulties in the construction of a long‐term implantable centrifugal pump. To eliminate the problems of the seal, motor size, and efficiency, two major steps were taken by modifying the Vienna implantable centrifugal pump. First, a special driving unit was developed, in which the permanent magnets of the motor themselves are used for coupling the force into the rotor. Second, the rotor shaft in the pumping chamber was eliminated by adopting a concept recently presented by Ohara. The rotor is supported by 3 pins, which run on a carbon disk, whose concave shape leads to stabilization. The device has the following specifications: size: 65 mm (diameter) by 35 mm (height), 101 cm 3 ; priming volume 30 cm 3 , 240 g; and a 6‐pole brushless double disk DC motor. The required input power of the described prototype is 15 W at 150 mm Hg, 5 L/min (overall η= 11%), and has an in vitro index of hemolysis (IH) of 0.0046 g/100 L. The test for in vitro thrombus growth exhibited far less thrombus formation in the new design than in designs with axles. In conclusion, the design of a special driving unit and the elimination of the axle led to the construction of a small pump with very low blood traumatization.