Abstract
We have developed a miniature axial flow pump Valvo Pump 2 that is intend to install the base of the ascending aorta. The new axial flow pump consists of a stator, an impeller in which four neodymium magnets are incorporated, and the impeller is directly driven by the stator. Rotation of the impeller is suspended by a passive magnet bearing in an axial direction, and by a hydrodynamic bearing in a radial direction. The magnetic passive bearing tolerates an axial load of 3.5 N, and the CFD analysis shows that the magnetic passive bearing can sustain the impeller in an axial direction. The hydrodynamic bearing is currently under development to obtain enough radial bearing capacity.Further studies are required, the new axial flow pump Valvo Pump 2 could be promising to be a new VAD.
