Left Ventricle Assist Device

This research paper highlights the significance of mock circulatory loops in aiding the development and testing of left ventricle assist devices (LVADs). Heart disease is the leading cause of death in America, and LVAD offers an effective solution to patients with severe coronary artery disease who are not eligible for heart transplants. However, before testing LVADs in-vivo, extensive performance and reliability testing is required as per Food and Drug Administration guidelines. Mock circulatory loops are useful for simulating the cardiac cycle and capturing pressure and flow meter readings. The research focused on developing and testing a mock circulatory loop that accurately captures pressure and flow meter readings. The team experimented with various silicone elastomers and a urethane-based material, ClearFlex 30, to create a transparent phantom. The report highlights the importance of surface roughness for optical clarity, with an average surface roughness of 0.186 μ being ideal for optimal clarity achieved with 800-grit sandpaper. The impact of pressure differences between the aortic and mitral inlet/outlets was also studied, and it was found that the loop's resistance can be modified to achieve elevated pressure in the aortic outlet. The report further emphasized the importance of refractive index matching to perform particle image velocity. Matching the refractive index of the phantom with the medium is critical to avoid distortion and refraction of the light. Glycerol water was found to be an effective medium for refractive index matching. Overall, the successful testing of the mock circulatory loop provides valuable insights into the flow structure within the heart, aiding in the development of future LVADs. This research is significant in advancing the cardiology field and will potentially benefit many patients suffering from heart disease.