Touch down of blood pump impellers

The invention relates generally to blood pumps of the type in which a rotor, having impeller blades, is supported by magnetic bearings within a stator, and more particularly to preventing pump failure or hemolysis if the rotor should come into contact with the stator. A blood pump having rotor and/or stator touch down zones to prevent pump failure or hemolysis which can occur if the rotor comes into contact with the stator due to power failure or mechanical shock. The touch down zones can include forming, or coating, portions of adjacent surfaces of the stator and rotor which can come into contact if a rotor touch down occurs. The materials used to form or coat the touch down zones can have properties which ensure that no consequential damage to the contacting surfaces occurs.