Ceramic pivot bearing arrangement for a sealless blood pump

A blood pump comprising:

• a casing having an inlet port and an outlet port,
• at least one pivot bearing fixed in the casing,
• at least one impeller disposed in the casing, the at least one impeller comprising
• a rotatable shaft having an end,
• a pivot integrated with the end of the rotatable shaft and supported in the at least one pivot bearing for permitting rotation of the at least one impeller relative to the casing,
• vanes for forcing a fluid through the casing from the inlet port to the outlet port when the rotatable shaft rotates,
• a magnet, and
• magnetic drive means disposed outside the casing for cooperating with the magnet to rotate the at least one impeller,
• wherein at least one of the pivot and the pivot bearing comprises a ceramic material, and wherein the ceramic comprises zirconia as a principal constituent.

A blood pump comprising:

• a casing having an inlet port and an outlet port,
• at least one pivot bearing fixed in the casing,
• at least one impeller disposed in the casing, the at least one impeller comprising a rotatable shaft having an end,
• a pivot integrated with the end of the rotatable shaft and supported in the at least one pivot bearing for permitting rotation of the at least one impeller relative to the casing,
• vanes for forcing a fluid through the casing from the inlet port to the outlet port when the rotatable shaft rotates,
• a magnet, and
• magnetic drive means disposed outside the casing for cooperating with the magnet to rotate the at least one impeller,
• wherein at least one of the pivot and the pivot bearing comprises a ceramic material, and wherein the ceramic comprises silicon nitride as a principal constituent.

A blood pump comprising:

• a casing having an inlet port and an outlet port,
• at least one pivot bearing fixed in the casing,
• at least one impeller disposed in the casing, the at least one impeller comprising a rotatable shaft having an end,
• a pivot integrated with the end of the rotatable shaft and supported in the at least one pivot bearing for permitting rotation of the at least one impeller relative to the casing,
• vanes for forcing a fluid through the casing from the inlet port to the outlet port when the rotatable shaft rotates,
• a magnet, and
• magnetic drive means disposed outside the casing for cooperating with the magnet to rotate the at least one impeller,
• wherein at least one of the pivot and the pivot bearing comprises a ceramic material,
• wherein the ceramic comprises alumina as a principal constituent.

A blood pump comprising:

• a casing having an inlet port and an outlet port,
• at least one pivot bearing fixed in the casing,
• at least one impeller disposed in the casing, the at least one impeller comprising a rotatable shaft having an end,
• a pivot integrated with the end of the rotatable shaft and supported in the at least one pivot bearing for permitting rotation of the at least one impeller relative to the casing,
• vanes for forcing a fluid through the casing from the inlet port to the outlet port when the rotatable shaft rotates,
• a magnet, and
• magnetic drive means disposed outside the casing for cooperating with the magnet to rotate the at least one impeller,
• wherein at least one of the pivot and the pivot bearing comprises a ceramic material,
• wherein the ceramic comprises silicon carbide as a principal constituent.