Ventricular assist device and method

A ventricular assist device for a human heart, the device comprising:

• a frame having a proximal end, a distal end, a shroud disposed between the proximal end and the distal end and having an inner surface defining a portion of a flow path, and a plurality of projections disposed at the proximal end, the frame sized for placement within a blood vessel at a selected location within the blood vessel;
• an anchor having an a base and a brace coupled to the base, the anchor moveable to an expanded configuration in which the brace is offset from frame and engages a portion of a blood vessel;
• a stator assembly disposed within the frame;
• a rotor assembly disposed between the stator assembly and the frame;
• and
• a power source operatively coupled to the stator assembly;
• the stator and the rotor arranged to interact in response to the application of power from the power source to the stator assembly to cause the rotor assembly to rotate,
• where the plurality of projections of the frame engage the base of the anchor.

A method of assembling a rotor assembly of a ventricular assist device, the method comprising:

• disposing a rotor bearing shim on an outer surface of a sleeve of a rotor housing and abutting the rotor bearing shim against a proximal ring of the rotor housing;
• disposing a plurality of rotor bearing magnets on the outer surface adjacent to the rotor bearing shim;
• disposing a rotor motor shim on the outer surface of the sleeve and adjacent to the plurality of rotor bearing magnets;
• disposing a rotor motor spacer on the outer surface of the sleeve adjacent to the rotor motor shim;
• disposing at least one rotor magnet on the outer surface adjacent to the rotor motor spacer;
• and
• attaching an impeller shell to a distal end and a proximal end of the rotor housing, along a length of the sleeve of the rotor housing, providing a hermetically sealed internal area between the impeller shell and the outside surface of the rotor housing, such that components disposed on the outside surface of the rotor housing are sealed off.