ABSTRACT
Objective:The hemolytic prediction model of the axial flow impeller blood pump is carried out by using a computational fluid dynamics(CFD) multiphase flow model.Methods:The hydrodynamic performance of the pump and the flow field in the pump, and the shear stress distribution are analyzed. A hemolytic prediction model based on the shear stress is built based on the calculation results. Hemolysis tests in vitro were performed 6 times with fresh bovine blood. At each time, the flow of the ventricular assist device(VAD) is 5 L/min and the outflow tract pressure is 100 mmHg(13.3kPa). According to the tests, the plasma free hemoglobin(FHB) content and the hematocrit(HCT) are measured every half hour. At the end of each experiment Normal Index of Hemolysis(NIH) is calculated.Results:The average of NIH is 0.0055 g/100L, almost identical with that obtained from the hemolytic prediction model.Conclusion:Multiphase flow model can be used for quantitative predictions of the hemolytic behavior of a VAD. This method can be applied in the selection stage of a blood pump.