Numerical methods for hemolysis and thrombus evaluation in the percutaneous ventricular assist device

Area of Science:

• Biomedical Engineering
• Computational Fluid Dynamics
• Medical Device Development

Background:

• Percutaneous ventricular assist devices (pVADs) are crucial for heart failure treatment.
• Hemolysis and thrombus formation are significant complications of pVADs.
• Accurate evaluation of these complications is vital for pVAD development and patient safety.

Purpose of the Study:

• To optimize a numerical model for predicting hemolysis and thrombus formation in pVADs.
• To enhance the accuracy of computational models for assessing pVAD risks.
• To provide a tool for guiding the development of safer pVADs.

Main Methods:

• Developed an optimized numerical model incorporating a power law function for hemolysis.
• Improved a multi-component thrombus prediction model by including the von Willebrand factor.
• Validated the numerical model against hydraulic performance experiments, in vitro hemolysis tests, and in vivo thrombus data.

Main Results:

• Numerical simulations showed less than 5% error compared to hydraulic performance experiments.
• Predicted hemolysis aligned well with in vitro experimental results.
• The model accurately predicted thrombus locations consistent with in vivo findings.

Conclusions:

• The optimized numerical model accurately assesses hemolysis and thrombus formation risks in pVADs.
• This computational tool can effectively support the development of improved pVADs.
• The model offers a reliable method to reduce pVAD-related complications.