Development of an extracorporeal pump for ECMO systems

Objective: today, extracorporeal membrane oxygenation (ECMO) systems remain the main type of short-term circulatory support in various clinical situations. One of the main elements of this system is a blood pump. The objective of this study is to develop the first domestic centrifugal pump for use in ECMO systems.

Materials and methods. Based on a systematic literature review, the main medical and technical requirements for an extracorporeal centrifugal pump were formulated. To create 3D mathematical models of the outer casing of the pump and all its internal components, calculations were performed in CAD software package SolidWorks (SolidWorks Corp., USA). Hydrodynamic test benches were designed and developed to evaluate the performance of the centrifugal pump mockup. The pump was studied to obtain its head-capacity curve (HCC) and hemolytic characteristics.

Results. 3D modeling of geometrical parameters of the pump flow impeller was performed. Fluid flow was assessed in the rotor rotation range at speeds from 3000 to 7000 rpm. Hydrodynamic bench tests were performed under conditions simulating the resistance of the oxygenator and connecting cannulas. The HCC was obtained based on the given medical and technical requirements for the operating flow range from 1 to 5 l/min at pressure dropsof 200 to 400 mm Hg.

Conclusion. Based on results from the 3D modeling and bench experiments, a model of extracorporeal centrifugal pump was obtained, which showed its efficiency during the first trials. Further experimental studies will be conducted to obtain the energy and biological characteristics of the developed device.

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