Performance Study on Newly Developed Impellers for a Left Ventricular Assist Device

Abstract

Our research develops a performance study on newly developed impellers for a left ventricular assist device. In order to analyze the hemodynamic characteristics of blood flow through the ventricular assist device, the CFX-TASCflow software is adopted to investigate the flow-field characteristics. The numerical results provide not only the flow characteristics for the overall field, but also the data of relationship for flow rate and pressure head. In the conceptual design process, hemodynamic study for an initial impeller design is presented first and a geometry change is recommended. Two design models are developed and the associated flow rate and pressure head performances are evaluated as well. According to design criteria, the most efficient design is the one with a smooth flow passage and with a low possibility for vortex generation. We suggest the superior design be chosen for further in vitro testing and be prepared for the new design generation. It has been shown that the design can provide a flow rate of 3.0 l/min with a pressure head of 127.09 mmHg. Both the flow rate and pressure head can meet requirements for the left ventricular assist device to work normally. (Int J Artif Organs 2007; 30: 594–603)