Centrifugal blood pump systems

A centrifugal blood pump system to persistently increase the overall diameter of veins wherein the blood pump is configured to pump blood into a peripheral vein, the centrifugal blood pump system comprising:

• a) a centrifugal blood pump comprising:
• i) a pump housing comprising:
• a) an inlet comprising an inflow diffuser to receive blood and direct blood onto an impeller, the inflow diffuser further comprising a top pivot bearing and a bottom pivot bearing, wherein a protrusion extends from the pump housing into the inlet and wherein the protrusion comprises a recess that accepts and supports at least a portion of a stationary portion of the top pivot bearing;
• b) an impeller casing comprising a recess that accepts and supports at least a portion of the stationary portion of the bottom pivot bearing;
• and
• c) an outlet;
• ii) an impeller suspended within the pump housing and disposed between the stationary portions of the top and bottom pivot bearings, the impeller having:
• a) A top impeller pivot shaft comprising a rotating portion of the top pivot bearing that is configured to engage the stationary portion of the top pivot bearing;
• b) A bottom impeller pivot shaft comprising a rotating portion of the bottom pivot bearing that is configured to engage the stationary portion of the bottom pivot bearing;
• c) a plurality of blades on the top surface of the impeller and extending radially away from a center of the impeller, the blades to direct blood received from the inlet to the outlet when the pump is in operation;
• d) a plurality of bore holes extending parallel to a central axis of the impeller from a bottom surface through the impeller to a top surface;
• and
• e) at least one magnet mechanically engaged to the impeller;
• iii) an electric motor to magnetically engage the at least one magnet, wherein the electric motor rotates the at least one magnet and the impeller when the pump is in operation;
• b) an inflow conduit having an inner diameter of 2-6 mm, having a first end and a second end, where the first end is configured to make a fluid connection to the inlet and the second end is configured for insertion into the lumen of a donating vein;
• c) an outflow conduit with an inner diameter of 2-6 mm, having a first end and a second end, where the first end is configured to make a fluid connection to the outlet and the second end is configured for insertion into the lumen of an accepting vein;
• and
• d) a control device for controlling the speed of the impeller, the control device including a processor, a memory, a battery, and a cable for electrically connecting the control device to the centrifugal pump, wherein the processor is configured for controlling the impeller speed to maintain a blood pumping rate between 50 mL/min and 1500 mL/min for at least 7 days.