Jewellike Bearings for Blood Pumps

Jewellike bearings have been devised to enhance the performance and safety of small rotary pumps that are used to increase or sustain flows of blood in cardiac patients. A pump of this type includes a spinning impeller in an axial- or radial-flow configuration. The impeller shaft is supported at its ends by the jewellike bearings. Similar bearings could be used in other small pumps that are required to operate for long times without need for maintenance.