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Published on: January 18, 2021
Flow visualization of three-dimensionality inside the 12 cc Penn State pulsatile pediatric ventricular assist device
Breigh N Roszelle1, Steven Deutsch, Keefe B Manning
1Department of Bioengineering, The Pennsylvania State University, 205 Hallowell Building, University Park, PA 16802, USA.
Insights
Researchers validated 2D Particle Image Velocimetry (PIV) for pediatric ventricular assist device (PVAD) flow analysis. This method sufficiently captures wall shear rates, crucial for reducing thrombosis in pediatric heart transplant devices.
Area of Science:
- Biomedical Engineering
- Cardiovascular Device Development
- Fluid Dynamics
Background:
- Limited organ availability for pediatric heart transplants necessitates advanced VADs.
- Pediatric Ventricular Assist Devices (PVADs) show increased thrombus formation due to complex flow physics.
- Standard 3D flow visualization techniques are impractical for small, highly curved PVADs.
Purpose of the Study:
- To assess the reliability of 2D planar Particle Image Velocimetry (PIV) for PVAD flow analysis.
- To determine if 2D PIV can adequately capture critical flow parameters for thrombosis prediction.
- To validate a pseudo-3D PIV approach for studying PVAD hemodynamics.
Main Methods:
- A pseudo-3D PIV study was conducted using planes parallel and normal to the diaphragm.
- A mock circulatory loop with a viscoelastic fluid simulating 40% hematocrit blood was utilized.
- Flow fields were analyzed to understand velocity components and wall shear rates.
Main Results:
- While the third velocity component aids physical understanding, 2D PIV data parallel to the diaphragm is sufficient.
- This data accurately describes wall shear rates, a key factor in thrombosis.
- The study confirms the utility of 2D PIV for PVAD design and thrombosis assessment.
Conclusions:
- 2D PIV is a reliable and practical method for flow visualization in pediatric ventricular assist devices.
- This technique can effectively inform the design of PVADs to mitigate thrombus formation.
- Findings support the continued use of 2D PIV in the development of life-saving pediatric cardiac support technologies.
Abstract:
In order to aid the ongoing concern of limited organ availability for pediatric heart transplants, Penn State has continued development of a pulsatile Pediatric Ventricular Assist Device (PVAD). Initial studies of the PVAD observed an increase in thrombus formation due to differences in flow field physics when compared to adult sized devices, which included a higher degree of three-dimensionality. This unique flow field brings into question the use of 2D planar particle image velocimetry (PIV) as a flow visualization technique, however the small size and high curvature of the PVAD make other tools such as stereoscopic PIV impractical. In order to test the reliability of the 2D results, we perform a pseudo-3D PIV study using planes both parallel and normal to the diaphragm employing a mock circulatory loop containing a viscoelastic fluid that mimics 40% hematocrit blood. We find that while the third component of velocity is extremely helpful to a physical understanding of the flow, particularly of the diastolic jet and the development of a desired rotational pattern, the flow data taken parallel to the diaphragm is sufficient to describe the wall shear rates, a critical aspect to the study of thrombosis and design of such pumps.
