Sealing performance of a magnetic fluid seal for rotary blood pumps.
A magnetic fluid (MF) for a rotary blood pump seal enables mechanical contact-free rotation of the shaft and, hence, has excellent durability. The performance of a MF seal, however, has been reported to decrease in liquids. We have developed a MF seal that has a "shield" mechanism and a new MF with a higher magnetization of 47.9 kA/m. The sealing performance of the MF seal installed in a rotary blood pump was studied. Under the condition of continuous flow, the MF seal remained in perfect condition against a pressure of 298 mm Hg (pump flow rate: 3.96 L/min). The seal was also perfect against a pressure of 170 mm Hg in a continuous flow of 3.9 L/min for 275 days. We have developed a MF seal that works in liquid against clinically used pressures. The MF seal is promising as a shaft seal for rotary blood pumps.
Department of Human Sciences and Informatics, School of Biological Science and Engineering, Tokai University, Sapporo, Japan. ymita@tspirit.tokai-u.jp
Yoshinori
Y
Mitamura
Sayaka
S
Takahashi
Kentaro
K
Kano
Eiji
E
Okamoto
Shun
S
Murabayashi
Ikuya
I
Nishimura
Taka-Aki
TA
Higuchi
D004867:Equipment Design; D004868:Equipment Failure; D019544:Equipment Failure Analysis; D006353:Heart-Assist Devices; D008280:Magnetics; D008422:Materials Testing; D011312:Pressure; D011673:Pulsatile Flow; D012399:Rotation; D013997:Time Factors; D014783:Viscosity