Design of a small centrifugal blood pump with magnetic bearings.

Design of a blood pump with a magnetically levitated rotor requires rigorous evaluation of the magnetic bearing and motor requirements and analysis of rotor dynamics and hydraulic performance with attention to hemolysis and thrombosis potential. Given the desired geometric dimensions, the required operating speed, flow in both the main and wash flow regions, and magnetic bearing performance, one of several design approaches was selected for a new prototype. Based on the estimated operating speed and clearance between the rotor and stator, the motor characteristics and dimensions were estimated.