Abstract
The valvo-pump, an axial nonpulsatile blood pump implanted at the heart valve position, has been developed. The valvo-pump consists of an impeller and a motor which are encased in a housing. An impeller with 5 vanes (22.0 mm in diameter) is used. The impeller is connected to a samarium-cobalt-rare-earth magnet direct current (DC) brushless motor measuring 21.3 mm in diameter and 24.9 mm in length. Sealing is achieved by means of a ferrof luidic seal. A pump flow of 16.1 L/min was obtained at a pump differential pressure of 7.7 kPa (58 mmHg), and a flow of 5.0 L/min at 18.4 kPa (138 mmHg). Sealing was kept perfect against a pressure of 29.3 kPa (220 mmHg) at 9000 RPM.
