Blood pump systems and methods

A low flow blood pump system comprising:

• a centrifugal blood pump with an operating range between 50 milliliters per minute and 1500 milliliters per minute, the blood pump comprising:
• a pump housing having a pump inlet comprising an inflow diffuser to receive blood and direct blood onto an impeller, the inflow diffuser further comprising a top bezel supporting a top pivot bearing, the top bezel extending from the inflow diffuser into the pump housing, and a bottom bezel and supporting a bottom pivot bearing, the bottom bezel extending from a bottom of the housing into the interior space of the housing;
• the impeller suspended within the housing wherein a first gap between the impeller and a top portion of the housing is in a first range between about 0.05 mm and about 0.2 mm, the impeller having:
• an impeller pivot having a first end to engage the top pivot and a second end to engage the bottom pivot;
• a plurality of blades on the top surface of the impeller and extending radially away from a center of the impeller, the blades configured to force blood received at the inlet through the pump housing and to the outlet;
• and,
• at least one lumen extending generally parallel to the impeller pivot, the at least one lumen defining a fluid channel from a bottom surface of the impeller to the top surface of the impeller, wherein the fluid channel increases blood flow to the bottom surface of the impeller, a bottom bearing interface, a top bearing interface, and a region of the housing adjacent to the top bezel;
• at least one magnet mechanically engaged to the impeller;
• and
• an electric coil assembly to magnetically engage the at least one magnet, wherein the electric coil assembly rotates the at least one magnet and the impeller;
• a first conduit having two ends, one end configured for a fluid communication with the pump inlet and the other configured for making fluid to a peripheral vein by a surgical anastomosis;
• and
• a second conduit having two ends, one end configured for a fluid communication with the pump outlet and the other configured for insertion into a peripheral vein.