ASAIO journal : a peer-reviewed journal of the American Society for Artificial Internal Organs
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To overcome problems derived from the shaft within conventional centrifugal pumps, we have developed a new centrifugal pump, the magnetically suspended centrifugal pump (MSCP), which has no shaft and operates as a bearingless centrifugal pump. The impeller is suspended freely and centrally by magnetic force within the pump. Hemolysis tests were performed in comparison with the Biopump. ⋯ In the other sheep, the MSCP ran for 15 days, and showed no thrombus on the impeller. During each experiment, plasma free hemoglobin levels were less than 15 mg/dl. The MSCP induced less hemolysis than did the Biopump, and the MSCP containing an impeller coated with silicone demonstrated the potential to run for 14 days without thrombus formation within the pump.