Strain analysis of flexing blood pump diaphragms.
Blood pumps usually use elastomer diaphragms that undergo repeated small-strain flexing (deformation).  The stresses and strains that develop in the mechanically actuated diaphragms dictate the useful life and fluid-solid interactions of the diaphragm.  A knowledge of these stresses and strains is essential for proper design of the pump's elastomer diaphragm.  A nonlinear axisymmetric finite-element stress-strain analysis has been carried out on a Hexsyn rubber diaphragm used in a blood pump to illustrate a finite-element modeling technique.  A situation involving the application of an axial deformation load on the diaphragm has been considered.  In particular, the strains developed in a blood pump diaphragm during pumping have been quantified to illustrate the analysis technique.
Allied-Signal Inc., Troy, Michigan.
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Kesavan
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Yazdani
D004548:Elasticity; D004867:Equipment Design; D006353:Heart-Assist Devices; D006801:Humans; D008433:Mathematics; D008955:Models, Cardiovascular; D012408:Rubber; D013314:Stress, Mechanical; D013718:Tensile Strength