Numerical study of rotary blood pumps using tridimensional fluid-structure interaction

• Grant number: 23/14892-2
• Support Opportunities: Scholarships in Brazil - Post-Doctoral
• Start date: March 01, 2024
• End date: February 28, 2026
• Field of knowledge: Physical Sciences and Mathematics - Mathematics - Applied Mathematics
• Principal Investigator: José Alberto Cuminato
• Grantee: Manuel Felipe Mejía de Alba
• Host Institution: Instituto de Ciências Matemáticas e de Computação (ICMC). Universidade de São Paulo (USP). São Carlos , SP, Brazil
• Associated research grant: 13/07375-0 - CeMEAI - Center for Mathematical Sciences Applied to Industry, AP.CEPID

Abstract

Left ventricular assist devices (LVADs) are an important way of improving the quality of life of patients suffering from severe heart failure while they wait for transplantation. LVADs assist the heart by pulling blood from the deficient ventricle and propelling it directly into the patient's aorta. Despite substantial advances in the development and use of LVADs in the recent decades, various complications can arise in the post-operative phase, such as bleeding, clot, stroke, infection, right heart disfunction and hemolysis. With the aim of proposing alternatives to reduce these complications, in this study we propose a numerical-computational model capable of reproducing the mechanical behaviour of rotary pumps used as circulatory assistants. The central idea is that this model (digital twin) will serve to understand the mechanical effects caused by the operation of the device, as well as obtaining information that will allow existing designs to be improved. The model will use the latest generation of numerical techniques based on the finite element method, fluid-structure interaction, immersed in domains with rotating meshes and noninertial reference frames. The model developed will be calibrated using data from both the literature and the Institute of Bioengineering at InCor-HC-FMUSP. It is expected that the results generated will contribute to the development of more performant devices that can provide patients with a better quality of life.