Blood pump rotor bearings
AssigneeTc1 LLC
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.
Claims24
A method of supporting an impeller in a blood pump, the method comprising,
- supporting the impeller within a blood flow channel of the blood pump via a bearing, the bearing having a first bearing surface and, a second bearing surface that opposes the first bearing surface, wherein the impeller is positionable within the blood flow channel so that the first bearing surface and the second bearing surface are separated by an interface region;
- passing a flow of blood through the blood flow channel so that blood at least partially surrounds the first bearing surface and the second bearing surface;
- passing blood through the interface region by rotating the impeller within the blood flow channel;
- and
- flowing blood along at least one void in at least one of the first bearing surface and the second bearing surface.
A method of manufacturing a blood pump bearing, the method comprising:
- forming a first element of the blood pump bearing from a first biocompatible material by shaping a first working surface in either of a convex or a concave shape;
- forming a second element of the blood pump bearing from a second biocompatible material by shaping a second working surface configured to receive the first working surface in an axially rotatable configuration, the second working surface being sized relative to the first working surface sufficient to accommodate a layer of blood between the first and second working surfaces and formed in either a concave or a convex shape;
- and
- forming a plurality of voids in one or more of the first working surface and the second working surface.
A method of manufacturing blood pump bearings, the method comprising:
- forming a first blood pump bearing element from a first biocompatible material by shaping a first working surface in either of a convex or a concave shape;
- additively coating the first working surface with a second biocompatible material so as to form one or more surface grooves on the first blood pump bearing element;
- and
- forming a second blood pump bearing element from a third biocompatible material by shaping a second working surface configured to receive the first working surface in an axially rotatable configuration, the second working surface being sized relative to the first working surface sufficient to accommodate a layer of blood between the first and second working surfaces and formed in either a concave or a convex shape.
A method of manufacturing blood pump bearings, the method comprising:
- forming a first component of the blood pump bearings having a base surface and an outer surface adjacent to the base surface;
- additively coating first portions of the base surface with a biocompatible material, such that the first portions have a first thickness and form a first working surface, and such that second portions have a second thickness and form grooves in the working surface;
- and
- forming a second component of the blood pump bearings by shaping a second working surface configured to receive the first working surface in an axially rotatable configuration, the second working surface being sized relative to the first working surface sufficient to accommodate a layer of blood between the first and second working surfaces and formed in either a concave or a convex shape.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.