IMPLANTABLE CENTRIFUGAL BLOOD PUMP WITH HYBRID MAGNETIC BEARINGS

1 . An apparatus for pumping sensitive biological fluids, comprising:

a construct having an exterior, an interior having walls therein, at least one housing magnet disposed therein, and an axial center;

an inlet permitting passage of fluids through the construct and into the interior of the construct;

an outlet permitting passage of fluids through the construct from the interior of the construct, the outlet radially located from the axial center of the construct;

an impeller disposed within the interior of the construct and out of contact with the construct;

a magnetic system including at least one impeller magnet juxtaposed to the housing magnet, which is magnetized in a direction for suspending the impeller out of contact with the construct; and

a motor to drive the impeller and control fluid flowing through the apparatus.

2 . The apparatus of claim 1 , wherein the impeller includes arcuate blades and arcuate passageways whereby fluid flow through the construct is redirected from the inlet to the outlet.

3 . The apparatus of claim 2 , wherein the magnetic system comprises:

a first construct permanent magnet disposed on a first wall of the interior of the construct; a second construct permanent magnet disposed on a second wall, opposite the first wall, of the interior of the construct;

a first impeller permanent magnet disposed on the impeller distal to the axial center of the construct and juxtaposed with the first construct permanent magnet; a second impeller permanent magnet disposed on the impeller distal to the axial center of the construct and juxtaposed with the second construct permanent magnet;

a first construct permanent magnet set disposed on the first wall of the interior of the construct;

a second construct permanent magnet set disposed on the second wall of the interior of the construct;

a first impeller permanent magnet set disposed on the impeller proximate to the axial center of the construct and juxtaposed with the first construct permanent magnet set; and

a second impeller permanent magnet set disposed on the impeller proximate to the axial center of the construct and juxtaposed with the second construct permanent magnet set;

wherein the arrangement provides radial stabilization and, due to angular positioning, provides a degree of translational stabilization of the impeller and the impeller is prevented from contacting the interior of the construct by magnetic fields.

4 . The apparatus of claim 3 , wherein the inlet is integral with the construct exterior.

5 . The apparatus of claim 3 , wherein the outlet is integral with the construct exterior.

6 . The apparatus of claim 3 , wherein the outlet is radially located from the axial center of the construct.