Numerical design and experimental hydraulic testing of an axial flow ventricular assist device for infants and children.
Mechanical circulatory support options for infants and children are very limited in the United States. Existing circulatory support systems have proven successful for short-term pediatric assist, but are not completely successful as a bridge-to-transplant or bridge-to-recovery. To address this substantial need for alternative pediatric mechanical assist, we are developing a novel, magnetically levitated, axial flow pediatric ventricular assist device (PVAD) intended for longer-term ventricular support. Three major numerical design and optimization phases have been completed. A prototype was built based on the latest numerical design (PVAD3) and hydraulically tested in a flow loop. The plastic PVAD prototype delivered 0.5-4 lpm, generating pressure rises of 50-115 mm Hg for operating speeds of 6,000-9,000 rpm. The experimental testing data and the numerical predictions correlated well. The error between these sets of data was found to be generally 7.8% with a maximum deviation of 24% at higher flow rates. The axial fluid forces for the numerical simulations ranged from 0.5 to 1 N and deviated from the experimental results by generally 8.5% with a maximum deviation of 12% at higher flow rates. These hydraulic results demonstrate the excellent performance of the PVAD3 and illustrate the achievement of the design objectives.
Mechanical Engineering Department, School of Engineering, Virginia Commonwealth University, Richmond, Virginia 23284, USA.
Amy L
AL
Throckmorton
Alexandrina
A
Untaroiu
Paul E
PE
Allaire
Houston G
HG
Wood
D Scott
DS
Lim
Michael A
MA
McCulloch
Don B
DB
Olsen
D001698:Biomedical Engineering; D001783:Blood Flow Velocity; D002648:Child; D002675:Child, Preschool; D019295:Computational Biology / Q000379:methods; D006353:Heart-Assist Devices; D006801:Humans; D007223:Infant; D008280:Magnetics; D008422:Materials Testing / Q000295:instrumentation*; D009716:Numerical Analysis, Computer-Assisted; D010969:Plastics; D011474:Prosthesis Design / Q000295:instrumentation; D012212:Rheology; D012399:Rotation
D010969:Plastics