Patent attributes
A centrifugal blood pump includes a housing having a pumping chamber, an inlet having an inlet axis, and an outlet having an outlet axis. The inlet and the outlet are in fluid communication with the pumping chamber. The pump further includes an impeller rotatably disposed within the pumping chamber, and a strut connected to the housing at the inlet. The strut is connected to the housing at a circumferential position about the inlet axis such that a major axis of the strut and the outlet axis define a predetermined angle in a cross-sectional plane perpendicular to the inlet axis. The circumferential position of the strut relative the outlet axis reduces or eliminates damage to blood flowing around the strut.