Extended Finite Element Method for Fluid-Structure Interaction in Wave Membrane Blood Pumps

Keywords

Computational Medicine for the Cardiocirculatory System
SC4I/Digitization, Innovation, and Competitiveness of the Production System
Code:
39/2020
Title:
Extended Finite Element Method for Fluid-Structure Interaction in Wave Membrane Blood Pumps
Date:
Sunday 7th June 2020
Author(s):
Martinolli, M.; Biasetti, J.; Zonca, S.; Polverelli, L.; Vergara, C.
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Abstract:
Numerical simulations of cardiac blood pump systems are integral to the optimization of device design, hydraulic performance and hemocompatibility. In wave membrane blood pumps, blood propulsion arises from the wave propagation along an oscillating immersed membrane, which generates small pockets of fluid that are pushed towards the outlet against an adverse pressure gradient. We studied the Fluid-Structure Interaction between the oscillating membrane and the blood flow via three-dimensional simulations using the Extended Finite Element Method, an unfitted numerical technique that avoids remeshing by using a fluid fixed mesh. Our three-dimensional numerical simulations in a realistic pump geometry highlighted the role of the membrane deformation in promoting a blood flow towards the outlet despite of a resistive pressure gradient. We also simulated the pump system at different pressure conditions and we validated the numerical results against \textit{in-vitro} experimental data.