CAD-design, stress analysis and in vitro evaluation of three leaflet blood-pump valves.
The computer-supported development of valves for cardiac-assist devices or artificial hearts is shown in relation to plastic technology. A CAD-system is used for the design development, whereas the dimensioning of the critical and highly stressed membranes is examined by FEM-analyses. Economic manufacture is permitted by the combined thermoforming-dip moulding technique; the blood-side components are made from biocompatible polyurethane to minimize blood damage. The first long-term results in the test set-up are compared to the FEM results.
Knierbein
B
B
Helmholtz-Institute for Biomedical Engineering, Aachen University of Technology (RWTH), Germany.
Rosarius
N
N
Unger
A
A
Reul
H
H
Rau
G
G
D004867:Equipment Design; D006353:Heart-Assist Devices; D006801:Humans; D007091:Image Processing, Computer-Assisted; D008422:Materials Testing; D011140:Polyurethanes; D013314:Stress, Mechanical
D011140:Polyurethanes