A normal active childhood can elude small children and infants with defective heart valves. Soon, however, that may change thanks to LaunchPoint Technologies, a venture-engineering firm specializing in incubating startups and developing new technology. This company is researching a Pediatric Ventricular Assist Device (Pediatric VAD) that, if successful, will aid infants and small children with congenital or acquired cardiac disease. Children receiving this device will be able to run and play like other children, yet obtain the ventricular assist they need. This device would be the first designed specifically to provide long-term cardiac support to these special patients.

 
This prototype of the Pediatric Ventricular Assist Device was developed using CFD software from Ansys Corp.

Thorough computational fluid analysis plays a critical role in the design of the PediaFlow. The researchers must analyze the complex blood flow field and find the right blood flow path through the pump that will maximize hydrodynamic performance while minimizing any induced damage to the blood.  

Each component was modeled to ensure maximum blood flow through the tiny heart valves with as little damage as possible.

The CFD program the researchers chose is ANSYS CFX. They have integrated it with their own internally developed design tools — geometric models, automatic mesh generators, and mathematical blood damage models.

When
implanted, this device, which is a little larger than a 25-cent coin
will help infants and small children lead more normal lives.

The CFX program is intuitive to set up and delivers quick and accurate results, which are a few of the reasons why LaunchPoint chose the software for its Pediatric VAD.   

Ansys Corp.
www.ansys.com

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