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. / Master of Science / This research paper focuses on developing and testing left ventricle assist devices (LVADs) using a mock circulatory loop tool. Heart disease is a leading cause of death in America, and LVADs provide an effective solution for patients with severe coronary artery disease who are not eligible for heart transplants. However, before testing LVADs on humans, extensive performance and reliability testing is required as per Food and Drug Administration guidelines. Mock circulatory loops are a tool that helps simulate the cardiac cycle and capture pressure and flow meter readings. The researchers developed and tested a mock circulatory loop that could accurately capture pressure and flow meter readings. They used various materials to create a transparent phantom that allowed them to see inside the loop. The researchers found that the surface roughness of the phantom was important for optical clarity, and they achieved optimal clarity using 800-grit sandpaper. They also studied the impact of pressure differences between the aortic and mitral inlet/outlets. They found that the loop's resistance can be modified to achieve elevated pressure in the aortic outlet. To study the flow structure within the heart, the researchers used a technique called particle image velocity. They emphasized the importance of refractive index matching, which helps avoid distortion and refraction of light. The researchers found that glycerol water was 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 has significant implications for advancing the cardiology field and potentially benefitting many patients suffering from heart disease.
| Identifer | oai:union.ndltd.org:VTETD/oai:vtechworks.lib.vt.edu:10919/115709 |
| Date | 10 July 2023 |
| Creators | Patel, Rudra Dharmeshbhai |
| Contributors | Aerospace and Ocean Engineering, Coutier-Delgosha, Olivier, Philen, Michael Keith, Lowe, Kevin T. |
| Publisher | Virginia Tech |
| Source Sets | Virginia Tech Theses and Dissertation |
| Language | English |
| Detected Language | English |
| Type | Thesis |
| Format | ETD, application/pdf |
| Rights | In Copyright, http://rightsstatements.org/vocab/InC/1.0/ |
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