Design and Hydrodynamic Performance of a Pediatric Pulsatile Pump

Abstract

We report the design and hydrodynamic performance of a pulsatile blood pump and a pneumatic driver system to treat pediatric patients in need of circulatory support while waiting for a heart transplant. The blood pump consists of a pumping chamber with 15 ml stroke volume separated by a flexible diaphragm from a pneumatic chamber. The blood chamber has two orifices fitted with rings in which tri-leaflet tissue valves are placed to control the inflow and outflow of blood. Blood contacting surfaces are heparin coated. The driving unit allows operation of two pumps to assist the left and right side of the heart, independently or simultaneously in three different modes of operation: full-to-empty, ECG synchronized and asynchronous. The flow generated by the pump increases with preload and application of auxiliary negative pressure during the filling phase reaching approximately 1,6 L/min when the pump is operating in full-to-empty mode. The results suggest the performance of the pediatric VAD designed is compatible with the needs of pediatric patients up to 15 kg body weight.