Numerical hemolysis performance evaluation of a rotary blood pump under different speed modulation profiles

Introduction: Speed modulation methods have been studied and even used clinically to create extra pulsation in the blood circulatory system with the assistance of a continuous flow rotary blood pump. However, fast speed variations may also increase the hemolysis potential inside the pump. Methods: This study investigates the hemolysis performance of a ventricular assist rotary blood pump under sinusoidal, square, and triangular wave speed modulation profiles using the computational fluid dynamics (CFD) method. The CFD boundary pressure conditions of the blood pump were obtained by combining simulations with the pump’s mathematical model and a complete cardiovascular lumped parameter model. The hemolysis performance of the blood pump was quantified by the hemolysis index (HI) calculated from a Eulerian scalar transport equation. Results: The HI results were obtained and compared with a constant speed condition when the blood pump was run under three speed profiles. The speed modulations were revealed to slightly affect the pump hemolysis, and the hemolysis differences between the different speed modulation profiles were insignificant. Discussion: This study suggests that speed modulations could be a feasible way to improve the flow pulsatility of rotary blood pumps while not increasing the hemolysis performance.