Title: New Right Ventricular Assist Device with Magnetic
Suspension for Pediatric Patients
Abstract: Congestive heart failure (CHF) is a debilitating disease that affects millions of patients with acquired and congenital heart disease. The limited number of donor organs necessitates the development of implantable ventricular assist devices (VADs) to provide temporary, bridge-to-transplant and long-term circulatory assistance to patients with left-sided or right-sided heart failure. Since fewer therapeutic alternatives exist for patients who have failing right ventricles, the BioCirc Research Laboratory in Drexel BIOMED is developing a novel right-sided VAD, or RVAD. Building upon a prior design, we present the new RVAD2. The geometry of the RVAD2 is more compact than that of the original VAD and will feature an impeller levitated using a novel magnetic suspension system. The target design of the RVAD2 is to generate blood flow rates of 4-7 L/min for pressure rises of 10-30 mmHg over rotational speeds of 7,000-13,000 RPM. Numerical simulations of the RVAD2 were performed using ANSYS CFX to compare the performance predictions of the optimized RVAD2 design to the RVAD. Computational studies showed that the RVAD2 achieved target design criteria and successfully maintained hydraulic performance despite being 42% smaller than the RVAD. These results support the continued development of this new blood pump for patients with right-sided heart failure.
Abstract: Congestive heart failure (CHF) is a debilitating disease that affects millions of patients with acquired and congenital heart disease. The limited number of donor organs necessitates the development of implantable ventricular assist devices (VADs) to provide temporary, bridge-to-transplant and long-term circulatory assistance to patients with left-sided or right-sided heart failure. Since fewer therapeutic alternatives exist for patients who have failing right ventricles, the BioCirc Research Laboratory in Drexel BIOMED is developing a novel right-sided VAD, or RVAD. Building upon a prior design, we present the new RVAD2. The geometry of the RVAD2 is more compact than that of the original VAD and will feature an impeller levitated using a novel magnetic suspension system. The target design of the RVAD2 is to generate blood flow rates of 4-7 L/min for pressure rises of 10-30 mmHg over rotational speeds of 7,000-13,000 RPM. Numerical simulations of the RVAD2 were performed using ANSYS CFX to compare the performance predictions of the optimized RVAD2 design to the RVAD. Computational studies showed that the RVAD2 achieved target design criteria and successfully maintained hydraulic performance despite being 42% smaller than the RVAD. These results support the continued development of this new blood pump for patients with right-sided heart failure.