Axial flow pumps for supporting cardiac function

Abstract

The present disclosure provides a pump for supporting heart function, that includes a housing with a rotor disposed within the housing and spaced from an internal surface of the housing to define a clearance therebetween. An impeller is coupled to the rotor for propelling blood from a first inlet to an outlet of the housing along a primary blood flow path. The housing includes a second inlet fluidly coupled to the clearance between the rotor and the housing to define a secondary flow path through the clearance. The blood flowing through the secondary flow path continuously flushes the space between the rotor and the housing to minimize the formation and/or growth of blood clots and/or to remove heat generated by the pump. The secondary flow path may also provide a fluid bearing for the rotor and/or the impeller to reduce or eliminate contact surfaces and/or mechanical bearings between the rotating components of the pump and its housing, thereby reducing wear on these components and increasing the longevity of the pump.

Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.