Effect of blade trailing edge treatment on the hemolysis and hydraulic performance of left ventricular assist device
Fuqiang Lai,
Changsheng Cao,
Yumei Li,
Zhihuang Qiu,
Liangwan Chen
Affiliations
Fuqiang Lai
Department of Cardiovascular Surgery, Fujian Medical University Union Hospital, Fuzhou, Fujian, China; Key Laboratory of Cardio-Thoracic Surgery (Fujian Medical University), Fujian Province University, Fuzhou, Fujian, China; School of Mechanical Engineering and Automation, Fuzhou University, Fuzhou, Fujian, China
Changsheng Cao
School of Mechanical Engineering and Automation, Fuzhou University, Fuzhou, Fujian, China
Yumei Li
Department of Cardiovascular Surgery, Fujian Medical University Union Hospital, Fuzhou, Fujian, China; Fujian Center for Safety Evaluation of New Drug, Fujian Medical University, Fuzhou, Fujian, China
Zhihuang Qiu
Department of Cardiovascular Surgery, Fujian Medical University Union Hospital, Fuzhou, Fujian, China; Key Laboratory of Cardio-Thoracic Surgery (Fujian Medical University), Fujian Province University, Fuzhou, Fujian, China; Corresponding author
Liangwan Chen
Department of Cardiovascular Surgery, Fujian Medical University Union Hospital, Fuzhou, Fujian, China; Key Laboratory of Cardio-Thoracic Surgery (Fujian Medical University), Fujian Province University, Fuzhou, Fujian, China; Corresponding author
Summary: Left ventricular assist devices (LVADs) provide an effective artificial support treatment for patients with advanced-stage heart failure. To enhance the LVAD performance and optimize its internal flow field, different blade trailing edge treatment techniques are employed. This study mainly investigates the effects of two methods: bladelet and blade trimming. The effectiveness of these two techniques in LVADs has not been thoroughly evaluated in previous research. The flow field distribution and hydraulic performance of different impellers are obtained by computational fluid dynamics (CFD) simulations. The results reveal that bladelets can significantly weaken the hydraulic performance of LVADs. However, the appropriate bladelet parameters can reduce the hemolysis value and improve hemocompatibility. Similarly, suitable blade trimming parameters can optimize the hemocompatibility of LVADs. Nevertheless, excessive blade trimming can increase hemolysis. Lastly, blade trimming has minimal impact on the hydraulic performance of LVADs.
