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Study of Secondary Flow in Centrifugal Blood Pumps Using a Flow Visualization Method with a High-Speed Video Camera.
Ichiro Sakuma1, Yasuhiro Fukui1, Takeyoshi Dohi1
1Department of Applied Electronic Engineering, Faculty of Science and Engineering, Tokyo Denki University SaitamaDepartment of Precision Machinery Engineering, Faculty of Engineering, The University of Tokyo, Tokyo, Japan.
Artificial Organs
|September 5, 2017
Summary
Irregular flow patterns in centrifugal blood pumps significantly increase hemolysis. Optimizing pump design requires detailed analysis of secondary flow patterns using high-speed video visualization to improve blood compatibility.
Area of Science:
- Biomedical Engineering
- Fluid Dynamics
- Medical Devices
Background:
- Centrifugal blood pumps are critical in medical applications.
- Hemolysis, or red blood cell damage, is a major concern in blood pump design.
- Understanding flow dynamics is key to minimizing blood trauma.
Purpose of the Study:
- To investigate the relationship between impeller vane configuration, flow patterns, and hemolysis in centrifugal blood pumps.
- To identify specific flow characteristics that contribute to blood damage.
- To provide insights for optimizing blood pump design for reduced hemolysis.
Main Methods:
- Evaluated four pump models with varying vane configurations.
- Utilized flow visualization techniques with a high-speed video camera.
- Conducted in vivo hemolysis tests using bovine blood.
Main Results:
- The impeller with the highest relative fluid velocity, velocity variance, and irregular flow patterns caused the most hemolysis.
- Even at similar operating speeds and outputs, pumps with more irregular flow exhibited statistically greater hemolysis.
- Local irregular flow patterns were confirmed to deteriorate hemolytic performance.
Conclusions:
- Irregular secondary flow patterns within centrifugal blood pumps directly correlate with increased hemolysis.
- Detailed examination of flow patterns using high-speed video visualization is crucial for optimizing blood pump design.
- Minimizing flow irregularities is essential for enhancing the hemocompatibility of blood pumps.
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