Thesis
Magnetically levitated pediatric axial flow blood pump for total artificial heart
Master of Science (M.S.), Drexel University
Sep 2024
DOI:
https://doi.org/10.17918/00010661
Abstract
Thousands of pediatric patients in the United States are diagnosed with congestive heart failure (CHF) secondary to acquired or congenital heart disease. Symptoms of CHF include left-sided heart dysfunction, fluid retention and swelling in lower extremities, and shortness of breath. A substantial number of these pediatric patients also develop right-sided heart failure due to left-sided failure or dysfunction. Strategies to address CHF include pharmacological treatments, which only slow the progression of heart disease, or heart transplantation. With a lack of donor organs available, mechanical circulatory assist devices provide support until a donor organ becomes available, and there continues to be a severe shortage of pediatric blood pumps to support these patients. The BioCirc Research laboratory at Drexel University is developing a new medical device technology as a novel treatment for those pediatric patients with heart failure. In this thesis project, an axial flow blood pump was designed, developed, and tested against design requirements to provide circulatory assistance to these vulnerable children and older pediatric patients. Acting to improve blood flow to the lungs, this axial-flow right ventricular assist device (RVAD) is designed to achieve cardiovascular requirements by generating desired blood flow rates and increased pressures. Building on significant prior developmental work on this axial pump, we leveraged data from an existing, validated, axial flow blood pump that was designed for the adult population and assessed the similarity of performance for a geometrically smaller version of the pump using standard regression and nondimensional analysis. Numerical simulations were performed using ANSYS software to estimate the hydraulic performance of 5 design iterations, and a physical prototype of the superior design was built and tested in a hydraulic flow loop using a blood analog solution. Results demonstrated a strong pump performance for right ventricular assistance for pediatric patients; pressure-flow generation met expectations, and fluid forces on the levitated impeller rotor were within target magnitudes. Fluid stress levels exceeded our threshold levels, and we recognize the need for further design improvement to mitigate the risk of hemolysis and thrombosis. Overall, this work constitutes a strong next step in the continued development of this axial flow blood pump for pediatric patients with heart failure.
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Details
- Title
- Magnetically levitated pediatric axial flow blood pump for total artificial heart
- Creators
- Brandon Tsang
- Contributors
- Amy Throckmorton (Advisor)
- Awarding Institution
- Drexel University
- Degree Awarded
- Master of Science (M.S.)
- Publisher
- Drexel University; Philadelphia, Pennsylvania
- Number of pages
- ix, 70 pages
- Resource Type
- Thesis
- Language
- English
- Academic Unit
- School of Biomedical Engineering, Science, and Health Systems (1997-2026); Drexel University
- Other Identifier
- 991021901609904721