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Mechanical cavopulmonary assistance of a patient-specific Fontan physiology: numerical simulations, lumped parameter modeling, and suction experiments
Journal article   Peer reviewed

Mechanical cavopulmonary assistance of a patient-specific Fontan physiology: numerical simulations, lumped parameter modeling, and suction experiments

Amy L Throckmorton, James P Carr, Sharjeel A Tahir, Ryan Tate, Emily A Downs, Sonya S Bhavsar, Yi Wu, John D Grizzard and William B Moskowitz
Artificial organs, v 35(11), pp 1036-1047
Nov 2011
PMID: 21899571

Abstract

Vena Cava, Inferior - surgery Assisted Circulation - instrumentation Models, Cardiovascular Computer Simulation Humans Hemodynamics Assisted Circulation - methods Equipment Design Fontan Procedure - methods Suction - instrumentation Fontan Procedure - instrumentation
This study investigated the performance of a magnetically levitated, intravascular axial flow blood pump for mechanical circulatory support of the thousands of Fontan patients in desperate need of a therapeutic alternative. Four models of the extracardiac, total cavopulmonary connection (TCPC) Fontan configuration were evaluated to formulate numerical predictions: an idealized TCPC, a patient-specific TCPC per magnetic resonance imaging data, and each of these two models having a blood pump in the inferior vena cava (IVC). A lumped parameter model of the Fontan physiology was used to specify boundary conditions. Pressure-flow characteristics, energy gain calculations, scalar stress levels, and blood damage estimations were executed for each model. Suction limitation experiments using the Sylgard elastomer tubing were also conducted. The pump produced pressures of 1-16 mm Hg for 2000-6000 rpm and flow rates of 0.5-4.5 L/min. The pump inlet or IVC pressure was found to decrease at higher rotational speeds. Maximum scalar stress estimations were 3 Pa for the nonpump models and 290 Pa for the pump-supported cases. The blood residence times for the pump-supported cases were shorter (0.9 s) as compared with the nonsupported configurations (2.5 s). However, the blood damage indices were higher (1.5%) for the anatomic model with pump support. The pump successfully augmented pressure in the TCPC junction and increased the hydraulic energy of the TCPC as a function of flow rate and rotational speed. The suction experiments revealed minimal deformation (<3%) at 9000 rpm. The findings of this study support the continued design and development of this blood pump.

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Collaboration types
Domestic collaboration
Web of Science research areas
Engineering, Biomedical
Transplantation
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