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Publication Number
US-12460649-B2
Publication Date
2025-11-04
Expiration Date
Abstract
There is provided a rotatable impeller assembly for pumping caustic fluid byproducts in a medical device. The assembly comprises a rotor having a rotor cup, and an impeller having a rotor contacting surface and impeller blades. The assembly further comprises a magnetic ring seated within the cup. The magnetic ring comprises a first contact surface that is configured to mate with an inner surface of the cup, and a second contact surface that is configured to mate with the rotor contacting surface of the impeller. In such an arrangement, the magnetic ring is locked in position by the rotor cup and the impeller, thereby preventing any independent rotation of the magnetic ring relative to the rotor and the impeller while automatically balancing the rotor. Further, the rotor contacting surface of the impeller is attached to the cup to hermetically seal the magnetic ring within the impeller assembly.
Core Innovation
The patent describes a rotatable impeller assembly for pumping caustic fluid byproducts in a medical device. A single-piece magnetic ring is seated within a rotor cup and locked between the cup and the impeller, preventing independent rotation while automatically balancing the rotor. The impeller is attached to the rotor cup to seal the magnetic ring within the assembly.
The claims place the impeller assembly in a respiratory therapy device that delivers high velocity respiratory fluid to a patient, and describe a manufacturing method for an assembly with the same locking and sealing arrangement. The supplied partial content does not include the background section, so the problem stated there is not explicitly described in patent.
Claims Coverage
The two independent claims cover a medical device comprising a respiratory therapy device and an impeller assembly, and a method of manufacturing a medical device with such an assembly, featuring five inventive features.
Magnetic ring locked within the rotor cup and impeller
The device claim recites a single-piece magnetic ring seated in the rotor cup and locked between the cup's inner surface and the impeller's rotor contacting surface. A continuous ridge comprising an O-ring mates with a groove in the ring to fix it relative to the cup; the arrangement prevents independent rotation and automatically balances the rotor.
Hermetically sealed impeller assembly
The impeller's rotor contacting surface is attached to the rotor cup to hermetically seal the magnetic ring within the impeller assembly.
Axial ball-bearing support
The impeller assembly is supported by a single ball bearing in line with its central axis.
Respiratory therapy device with the impeller assembly
The claimed medical device is a respiratory therapy device configured for the listed ventilation or airway-pressure treatments and to deliver high velocity respiratory fluid to a patient; its impeller assembly pumps caustic fluid byproducts.
Manufacturing method for the locked and sealed impeller assembly
The method claim covers manufacturing an impeller assembly in which a single-piece magnetic ring is locked between the rotor cup and impeller, preventing independent rotation while automatically balancing the rotor. The ring is sealed within the assembly, which is mounted on a single ball bearing and on a medical device comprising a respiratory therapy device.
The independent claims cover the respiratory medical device and its impeller assembly, together with a manufacturing method for an assembly that locks and seals the magnetic ring, automatically balances the rotor, and uses single ball-bearing support.
Stated Advantages
Reduces balancing and assembly operations.
Lowers manufacturing cost.
Improves durability in caustic environments.
Documented Applications
Use in respiratory therapy devices, including devices configured for Assist/Control Ventilation, Intermittent Mandatory Ventilation, Pressure Support Ventilation, CPAP, NIPPV, or VPAP, and configured to deliver high velocity respiratory fluid to a patient.
Use in other pump systems for pumping caustic fluid byproducts.
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