Technologies
Minimally Invasive VAD (MIVAD)
How it Works
The MiVAD is a fully magnetically levitated rotary blood pump that uses WorldHeart's MagLev technology 'engine' that powers both the Levacor VAD and the PediaFlow VAD. It will also use the same multi-disciplinary computer-based modeling process that has led to efficient design and development of the Levacor and PediaFlow VADs.
The pump, MagLev and motor designs from these devices are being adapted to provide the desired improvements in biocompatibility, reliability, and quality of life for the less-sick MiVAD patient population.
Configuration
The MiVAD is a mixed flow pump with axial symmetry. It utilizes the similar pump and magnetic levitation principles as the larger Levacor VAD, however, in a geometric configuration that is optimized for its anatomic location and maximum flow rate.
The pump flow path is shown below:
The pump is configured to have a single flow path, with no secondary flow paths. Impeller blades are mounted on the rotor while stay vanes to straighten out the flow are mounted on the stator at the outlet side (left side of figure).
The rotor is fully magnetically levitated using only one single axis of active control (along the axis of blood flow), with the rest of the axes (radial, tilt) being passively levitated with a unique arrangement of permanent magnets.