Numerical modelling and simulations of the flow within a paediatric pulsatile ventricular assist device

• Grant number: 18/11588-2
• Support Opportunities: Scholarships in Brazil - Scientific Initiation
• Effective date (Start): November 01, 2018
• Effective date (End): October 31, 2019
• Field of knowledge: Engineering - Biomedical Engineering - Bioengineering
• Principal Investigator: Bruno Souza Carmo
• Grantee: Luiz Felipe Gonçalves Monteiro
• Host Institution: Escola Politécnica (EP). Universidade de São Paulo (USP). São Paulo , SP, Brazil
• Associated research grant: 12/50283-6 - Circulatory support in pediatric patients: ventricular assist device and extracorporeal membrane oxygenation, AP.TEM

Abstract

The Brazilian health scenario with respect to heart failure shows a huge amount of hospitalizations and deaths, according to Brazilian Public Health System (SUS). Therefore, the development and study of ventricular assist devices (VADs) become necessary to allow patients to survive while waiting for a transplant or to be used as a long-term treatment. The use of non-physiological devices results in blood component damages, such as hemolysis, thrombus formation and embolism, and, therefore, it is a challenge to the evolution of VADs. Adult VADs are currently well accepted. On the other hand, pediatric VADs (PVADs) have not yet evolved satisfactorily, exhibiting problems due to their smaller volume and different pump frequency, for example. This project aims to study the blood flow within a pulsatile PVAD developed by the Heart Institute of the University of São Paulo (InCor), using numerical modelling and simulations, and to investigate its relationship with hemolysis and thrombus formation.