The performance of a multiple-disk centrifugal pump as an artificial ventricle over a wide range of operating parameters

Abstract

The performance of a multiple-disk centrifugal pump based on the Tesla Turbine design is tested over a wide range of operating conditions. 'This pump is tested on a mock circulatory loop (with a blood analog) approved by the NIH. This valveless centrifugal pump is incorporated with pulsatility. A microcontroller was programmed to produce pulsatile flow with variable frequency, systolic duration, systolic rise time and diastolic delay by altering the pulse width modulated voltage to a DC motor. The outlet and inlet pressure and flow waveforms indicate that this pump is capable of performing like the natural heart over a varying range of input driving parameters. The motor rpm was monitored and stored, the low rpm values, indicate values well below the norms that traumatize blood, by cell lysis or shearing, in fact the peak rpm value is in the range of several hundreds of rpm below those of artificial ventricles currently in clinical use. Comparison to other artificial ventricles and direct experimental comparison with the Harvard Apparatus pulsatile piston pump indicated excellent physiologic agreement.