Computational fluid dynamics analysis of a maglev centrifugal left ventricular assist device.
The fluid dynamics of the Thoratec HeartMate III (Thoratec Corp., Pleasanton, CA, U.S.A.) left ventricular assist device are analyzed over a range of physiological operating conditions. The HeartMate III is a centrifugal flow pump with a magnetically suspended rotor. The complete pump was analyzed using computational fluid dynamics (CFD) analysis and experimental particle imaging flow visualization (PIFV). A comparison of CFD predictions to experimental imaging shows good agreement. Both CFD and experimental PIFV confirmed well-behaved flow fields in the main components of the HeartMate III pump: inlet, volute, and outlet. The HeartMate III is shown to exhibit clean flow features and good surface washing across its entire operating range.
Burgreen
Greg W
GW
Engineering Applied Sciences Inc, Export, PA, USA. burgreen@erc.msstate.edu
Loree
Howard M
HM
Bourque
Kevin
K
Dague
Charles
C
Poirier
Victor L
VL
Farrar
David
D
Hampton
Edward
E
Wu
Z Jon
ZJ
Gempp
Thomas M
TM
Schöb
Reto
R
D001243:Assisted Circulation / Q000295:instrumentation*; D001698:Biomedical Engineering; D001775:Blood Circulation; D001783:Blood Flow Velocity; D003198:Computer Simulation; D006354:Heart, Artificial; D006353:Heart-Assist Devices; D006801:Humans