Homopolar Magnetically Levitated Motor for Implantable Total Artificial Heart

We have developed a homopolar magnetically levitated motor for implantable total artificial hearts. The maglev motor has been developed based on the three-dimensional magnetic field analysis and can produce a magnetic suspension force of 12.4 N and a rotational torque of 50.8 mNm. The outer diameter of the motor is 50 mm and its height, including the coil ends, is 45 mm. A rotor with an outer diameter of 15 mm is suspended with an air gap of 1.5 mm in the inner space of an 18 mm diameter of the maglev motor. The developed maglev motor indicates sufficient magnetic levitation and rotation performance within 0.20 mm of vibration amplitude in the air. The maglev motor is a candidate as an actuator of a total artificial heart.