Under funding from the National Institutes of Health and in collaboration with a major medical center, Foster-Miller developed an intravascular catheter blood pump for use as a cardiac-assist device in the operating room or interventional cardiology lab.  This miniature rotary pump features a proprietary passive magnetic suspension system.  Use of magnetic bearings in the pump design avoids the crevices or seals of mechanical bearings that could induce thrombosis.  Success in bench testing with a prototype has led to efforts to further miniaturize the pump.  The dime-sized pump will be substantially smaller than any currently available device, making it suitable for providing circulatory support even in pediatric patients.  It will also provide support in a variety of clinical settings, ranging from support for acute heart failure to use as a bridge to transplantation.

The expertise applied to this project includes:

• Program management
• Implantable device design
• Magnetic bearing design
• Mechanical engineering
• Reliability testing
• Biocompatible materials.

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