title: Evaluation of a multiple disk centrifugal pump as an artificial ventricle.
abstract: A multiple-disk centrifugal pump based on the Tesla Turbine design has been modified for potential use as an artificial ventricle or ventricular assist device. The pump consists of a series of interconnected parallel disks placed within a spiral volute housing. This pump normally operates as a continuous flow device; however, a controller circuit has been developed to also allow for pulsatile operation. Frequency, systolic duration, systolic rise time, and diastolic decay time can be independently controlled to produce a wide range of pulsatile pressures and flows. This pumping system was tested in vitro on a mock circulatory system using a blood analogue. Inlet and outlet pressures, outlet flow, and motor rotations per minute were continually monitored over a wide range of physiologic operating conditions. The disk pump output was compared with that of other artificial ventricles and produced favorable results. Direct experimental comparisons were made with a Harvard Apparatus pulsatile piston pump. Unlike the Harvard pump, the disk pump does not use valves. Rather, a slight forward rotation of the disks is used to offset the adverse diastolic pressure gradient, which avoids backflow through the device.
authors.affiliation: Bioengineering Program, Texas A&M University, College Station, Texas 77843-3120.
authors.forename: G E
authors.initials: GE
authors.lastname: Miller
authors.forename: A
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Sidhu
authors.forename: R
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Fink
authors.forename: B D
authors.initials: BD
authors.lastname: Etter
mesh_terms: D004867:Equipment Design; D005069:Evaluation Studies as Topic; D006353:Heart-Assist Devices; D006801:Humans; D008955:Models, Cardiovascular; D008961:Models, Structural; D011673:Pulsatile Flow