The simulation of multiphase flow field in implantable blood pump and analysis of hemolytic capability

The numerical simulation of the axial flow impeller blood pump NIVADIII is carried out by using a CFD multiphase flow model. The hydrodynamic performance of the pump and the flow field in the pump are analyzed, and the shear stress distribution is obtained. A hemolytic prediction model based on the shear stress is built based on the calculation results, and it can be used for qua- ntitative predictions of the hemolytic behavior of a blood pump. Hemolysis tests in vitro were performed 6 times with fresh bovine blood. At each time, the flow of the pump NIVADIII is 5 L/min and the outflow tract pressure is 100 mmHg. According to the tests, the plasma free hemoglobin (FHB) content and the hematocrit (HCT) are measured after 0 s, 0.5 s, 1 s, 1.5 s, …4 s. At the end of each experiment Normal Index of Hemolysis (NIH) of NIVADIII is calculated. The average of NIH is 0.0055 g/100L, almost identical with that obtained from the hemolytic prediction model. This method can be applied in the selection stage of a blood pump.