Basic Design of the Maglev Pump for Total Artificial Heart by using Double Stator Type Axial Self-bearing Motor

Due to the high rate of heart disease and a shortage of donor hearts, there has been a longstanding interest to develop mechanical replacements for the heart. A magnetically levitated motor is one of the key technology to develop a total artificial heart and bi-ventricular assist device. A double side stator type axial self-bearing motor with a tilt control function, in addition to rotation and translation motion control, was proposed. A slice rotor can be used due to tilt control function. The surface area of a stator and a rotor becomes large. The high torque self-bearing motor is realizable. The operating principle of the proposed self-bearing motor was explained and fundamental characteristics of the motor were tested. In addition, a basic design of the maglev pump by using the proposed axial SBM is presented. The operating principle was clarified that rotation control, translation control and tilt control show no interference. These four axes are, therefore, able to be controlled independently. According to the experimental result, the fabricated self-bearing motor showed good levitation and rotation performance. Moreover, the basic design of the maglev pump was presented.