Centrifugal blood pumps--a brief analysis: development of new designs.

Analysis of 350 different sources of information from leading countries of the world enabled us to determine the availability of 20 different designs of centrifugal and rotary blood pumps. Most of them are for extracorporeal applications with radial pumping wheels of disc or vane type. The prospect of improving these designs was suggested by a combination of these two types. Five new designs based on the Biomedicus have been produced. Basic calculations are given for one of these with respect to limitations for shear stresses. It is proposed that the suggested designs will allow reductions in thrombosis and haemolysis which are the main problems for these pump designs.