Extracorporeal Blood Pump driven by a Novel Bearingless Split-Tooth Flux-Reversal Motor

Area of Science:

• Electrical Engineering
• Biomedical Engineering
• Mechanical Engineering

Background:

• Bearingless motors offer advantages in applications requiring high reliability and minimal contamination.
• Flux reversal machines provide a magnet-free alternative for specific motor designs.
• Integrated pumps are crucial for miniaturized fluid handling systems in medical devices.

Purpose of the Study:

• To design and validate a novel bearingless split tooth flux reversal motor with an integrated centrifugal blood pump.
• To investigate the motor's capability for rotor levitation, torque generation, and fluid pumping.
• To optimize the motor design for performance and stability using finite element analysis.

Main Methods:

• Finite element simulations were employed for design optimization, focusing on radial force, torque, and cogging torque minimization.
• Mechanical design and fabrication of the motor and integrated pump were detailed.
• Experimental testing included closed-loop levitation, speed control, and fluid pumping performance evaluation.

Main Results:

• The motor achieved 3000 rpm, 100 mNm torque, and 50 N radial force capability for rotor centering.
• A novel magnetic configuration allowed for simple radial force generation independent of rotor angle.
• Experimental results validated closed-loop control and demonstrated impeller-limited pressure-flow curves for fluid pumping.

Conclusions:

• The developed bearingless flux reversal motor with an integrated blood pump is a viable solution for applications requiring contactless operation and precise fluid handling.
• The design's magnet-free rotor and independent force generation contribute to its robustness and control simplicity.
• Experimental validation confirms the motor's potential for use in advanced biomedical systems.