Objective To optimize the hemodynamics of a disk blood pump in children. Method We used the computational fluid dynamics technology to simulate the flow in a pediatric blood pump numerically, and finally analyzed the results for deep study about the thrombosis and hemolysis produced in it, to improve the design according to the results of the flow field analysis. Results We calculated results between the flow rate and the pressure elevation at different rotational speed: 2 500 rpm, 3 000 rpm, and 4 000 rpm, respectively. Under each rotational speed, it was selected five different discharge outlet boundary conditions. The simulation results conformed to the experimental data. The increased pressure of the blood pump was effective. But the phenomenon of flow separation was increased the at blade surface in the low speed region. The maximum wall shear stress was maintained within 100 Pa. Conclusion The design of disc blood pump has a good fluid dynamic performance. And the flow line is fluent, the probability of thrombosis and hemolysis occurred is in the range of control. But the phenomenon of flow separation is appeared. There is a room to improve.
Blood pump is the core component of artificial ventricular assist device, and thrombosis is a severe complication of blood pump in clinical application. Methods of controlling and reducing thrombosis include materials surface modification, structure and parameters optimization of blood pump, and others. The typical symptoms of thrombosis and the hazard of various types of blood pump, the formation mechanism and primary factors for thrombosis, and the simulation prediction models for thrombosis were reviewed in this paper.