Blood pump rotor bearings
AssigneeThoratec Corporation
InventorsStephen Zimmermann, Carine Hoarau, John Duc Nguyen
Life of this patent
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Abstract
A bearing assembly for use in a blood pump includes a first component that has a convex bearing surface and a first outer surface proximate the convex bearing surface. The bearing assembly includes a second component that a concave bearing surface and a second outer surface proximate the concave bearing surface, the concave bearing surface being configured to receive the convex bearing surface. A plurality of grooves are defined through the convex bearing surface and first outer surface or through the concave bearing surface and the second outer surface.
Claims21
A bearing assembly for use in a blood pump, comprising:
- a first component of a blood pump having a convex bearing surface and a first outer surface proximate the convex bearing surface;
- a second component of the blood pump having a concave bearing surface and a second outer surface proximate the concave bearing surface, the concave bearing surface being configured to receive the convex bearing surface;
- and
- wherein a plurality of grooves are defined through the convex bearing surface and a portion of the first outer surface or through the concave bearing surface and a portion of the second outer surface.
A component of a bearing assembly for use in a blood pump, comprising:
- a first component of a blood pump having a concave bearing surface and an outer surface proximate the concave bearing surface, the outer surface extending at least partially about the concave bearing surface;
- wherein the first component is configured to rotatably couple to a second component of the blood pump along an axis of rotation, and
- wherein the first component defines a plurality of bores that extend from the outer surface toward the axis of rotation, the bores establishing fluid communication between the outer surface and the concave bearing surface.
A blood pump comprising:
- a housing;
- a rotor disposed within the housing and having an axis of rotation;
- and
- a mechanical bearing supporting the rotor, the mechanical bearing being configured to be lubricated by blood during operation of the blood pump, the mechanical bearing including:
- a first component having a convex bearing surface and a first outer surface proximate the convex bearing surface,
- a second component having a concave bearing surface and a second outer surface proximate the concave bearing surface, the concave bearing surface being configured to receive the convex bearing surface;
- and
- wherein a plurality of voids are defined through the convex bearing surface and first outer surface or through the concave bearing surface and the second outer surface.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.