Hydrodynamic characteristics of the helical flow pump.

The helical flow pump (HFP) was invented to be an ideal pump for developing the TAH and the helical flow TAH (HFTAH) using two HFPs has been developed. However, since the HFP is quite a new pump, hydrodynamic characteristics inside the pump are not clarified. To analyze hydrodynamic characteristics of the HFP, flow visualization study using the particle image velocimetry and computational fluid dynamics analysis were performed. The experimental and computational models were developed to simulate the left HFP of the HFTAH and distributions of flow velocity vectors, shear stress and pressure inside the pump were examined. In distribution of flow velocity vectors, the vortexes in the vane were observed, which indicated that the HFP has a novel and quite unique working principle in which centrifugal force rotates the fluid in the helical volutes and the fluid is transferred from the inlet to the outlet helical volutes according to the helical structure. In distribution of shear stress, the highest shear stress that was considered to be occurred by the shunt flow across the impeller was found around the entrance of the inlet helical volute. However, it was not so high to cause hemolysis. This shunt flow is thought to be improved by redesigning the inlet and outlet helical volutes. In distribution of pressure, negative pressure was found near the entrance of the inlet helical volute. However, it was not high. Negative pressure is thought to be reduced with an improvement in the design of the impeller or the vane shape.

Pulsatile driving of the helical flow pump.

The helical flow pump (HFP) is newly developed blood pomp for total artificial heart (TAH). HFP can work with lower rotational speed than axial and centrifugal blood pump. It can be seen reasonable feature to generate pulsatile flow because high response performance can be realized. In this article, pulsatility of HFP was evaluated using mock circulation loop. Pulsatile flow was generated by modulating the rotational speed in various amplitude and heart rate. In the experiment, relationship between Pump flow, pump head, rotational speed amplitude, heart rate and power consumption is evaluated. As the result, complete pulsatile flow with mean flow rate of 5 L/min and mean pressure head of 100 mmHg can be obtained at ± 500 rpm with mean rotational speed of 1378 to 1398 rpm in hart rate from 60 to 120. Flow profiles which are non-pulsatile, quasi-pulsatile or complete flow can be adjusted arbitrarily. Therefore, HFP has excellent pulsatility and control flexibility of flow profile.