Flow simulation and optimization of a left ventricular assist device

Abstract

Artificial assist devices offer a promising treatment option for patients with congestive heart failure, especially when the patient is not eligible for heart transplantation. In order to develop a left ventricular assist device an interdisciplinary research, involving engineering and medical research teams, is conducted. The left ventricular assist device investigated in this study is the MicroMed DeBakey VAD [1], an axial blood pump that provides flow from the left ventricle to the aorta. The geometry of this baseline design is generated via parametric modeling. An optimization surface around the baseline design is formed by using the design of experiments method. Accordingly, eighty parameter sets and the corresponding CAD models are created. Flow through these pumps is simulated at the operation point. Flow data are evaluated to predict the pump performance, blood damage and bearing friction. An axial pump, closer to the optimum, is found that provides 8635 Pa pressure increase at a flow rate of 6 l/min and a rotational speed of 10000 rpm. Pressure head of the selected pump is 18% higher and blood damage is 4% less than the baseline design.