An implantable rotary blood pump including a rotor mounted for rotation within a pump housing. The rotor has a shaft portion and an impeller carried by the shaft portion. A rotor motor is provided, with a motor including a plurality of permanent magnets carried by the impeller and motor stators on opposite sides of the impeller. Structural members are provided between the impeller and stators to provide structural support and hermetical sealing. The structural members comprise biocompatible, corrosion resistant, electrically non-conducting ceramic material, which alleviate eddy current losses.
