Control of tissue growth in textured blood-contacting surfaces

DETAILED DESCRIPTION What is claimed is: 1.
A blood pump comprising: a blood flow channel having a textured surface and a smooth surface adjacent to the textured surface; and a rotor disposed within the blood flow channel, wherein the rotor includes an impeller blade that defines a sweep when the rotor turns and at least a portion of the impeller blade is configured to cut off a portion of a biologic lining as it grows from the textured surface into the sweep of the impeller blade.
2.
The blood pump of claim 1, wherein the impeller blade includes a leading edge and the leading edge is positioned adjacent to the smooth surface at a distance less than about 0.
020 inches from the textured surface.
3.
The blood pump of claim 2, wherein the distance between the leading edge and the textured surface is between about 0.
010 inches and about 0.
015 inches.
4.
The blood pump of claim 1, further comprising: a bearing mounted to the rotor; an inlet bearing block disposed in the blood flow channel, wherein the inlet bearing block is configured to retain the bearing; and at least one vane mounted to the bearing and defining a sweep of the vane when the rotor turns, wherein the inlet bearing block has a textured surface configured to encourage the formation of a biologic lining and the vane is configured to cut off a portion of the biologic lining growing from the textured surface of the inlet bearing block into the sweep of the vanes.
5.
The blood pump of claim 4, wherein the distance between the vane and the inlet bearing block is less than about 0.
020 inches.
6.
The blood pump of claim 5, wherein the distance between the vane and the inlet bearing block is between about 0.
010 inches and 0.
015 inches.
7.
The blood pump of claim 1, wherein the rotor is disposed within the blood flow channel adjacent to the smooth surface.
8.
The blood pump of claim 1, wherein the blood pump is a rotary flow pump.
9.
A method for cutting a biologic lining on a blood contacting surface, comprising: providing a blood pump comprising a blood flow channel having a textured surface and an adjacent smooth surface; and positioning a rotor within the blood flow channel, wherein the rotor has an impeller blade that defines a sweep when the rotor turns and the impeller blade is configured to cut off a portion of a biologic lining as it grows from the textured surface into the sweep of the impeller blade