Simulation studies on the hemodynamics of a centrifugal ventricular assist pump

The present study was aimed to reveal the possible interactions between the left ventricular assist pump and the blood. The study presented in here adopted the computational fluid dynamics approach to analyze the effects of variations in blade height, rotation speed, and suspension height on the dynamic performance of the left ventricular assist pump. In addition, the 3D printing technology was tested as a reliable of manufacture of the assembly parts the left ventricular assist pump. The study was designed and conducted only after system debugging was accomplished. The computer-aided simulation results showed that the blade height, rotation speed and suspension height had varied functional on the dynamic performance of the device. Comparison of the influence degree of each factor to that of the blood indicated that rotation speed has the largest impact, followed by the blade height and finally the suspension height. At the same time, the experimental results proved that the design principle was rational and if prepared the left ventricular assist pump could operate successfully. The computer-aided simulation and experiment also reproduced the possible effects of the various factors on the blood and provided a theoretical reference for the design of the centrifugal ventricular assist pump. © 2019, Turbomachinery Society of Japan. All rights reserved.