Assessment of Haemolysis Models for a Positive-Displacement Total Artificial Heart

Joe Bornoff, Shaikh Faisal Zaman, Azad Najar, Thomas Finocchiaro, Ina Laura Perkins, Andrew Cookson, Katharine Fraser

Research output: Contribution to journalArticlepeer-review

Abstract

The assessment and reduction of haemolysis within mechanical circulatory support (MCS) remains a concern with regard to device safety and regulatory approval. Numerical methods for predicting haemolysis have typically been applied to rotary MCS devices and the extent to which these methods apply to positive-displacement MCS is unclear. The aim of this study was to evaluate the suitability of these methods for assessing haemolysis in positive-displacement blood pumps. Eulerian scalar-transport and Lagrangian particle-tracking approaches derived from the shear-based power-law relationship were used to calculate haemolysis in a computational fluid dynamics model of the Realheart total artificial heart. A range of power-law constants and their effect on simulated haemolysis were also investigated. Both Eulerian and Lagrangian methods identified the same key mechanism of haemolysis: leakage flow through the bileaflet valves. Whilst the magnitude of haemolysis varied with different power-law constants, the method of haemolysis generation remained consistent. The Eulerian method was more robust and reliable at identifying sites of haemolysis generation, as it was able to capture the persistent leakage flow throughout the entire pumping cycle. This study paves the way for different positive-displacement MCS devices to be compared across different operating conditions, enabling the optimisation of these pumps for improved patient outcomes.
Original languageEnglish
Pages (from-to)570-581
Number of pages12
JournalThe International Journal of Artificial Organs
Volume47
Issue number8
DOIs
Publication statusPublished - 31 Aug 2024

Acknowledgements

The authors gratefully acknowledge the University of Bath’s Research Computing Group (doi.org/10.15125/b6cd-s854) for their support in this work.

Funding

The authors gratefully acknowledge the University of Bath\u2019s Research Computing Group (doi.org/10.15125/b6cd-s854) for their support in this work. The author(s) disclosed receipt of the following financial support for the research, authorship, and/or publication of this article: J.B. PhD funded 50/50 from Scandinavian Real Heart AB and EPSRC (Reference: 2426107).

FundersFunder number
Engineering and Physical Sciences Research Council2426107

Keywords

  • Eulerian scalar transport
  • Lagrangian particle track
  • Total artificial heart
  • computational fluid dynamics
  • fluid structure interactions
  • haemolysis
  • power law model
  • shear stress

ASJC Scopus subject areas

  • Bioengineering
  • Medicine (miscellaneous)
  • Biomaterials
  • Biomedical Engineering

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