The effect of pump rate and filling on hemolysis in a pulsatile left ventricular assist device (LVAD)

An in-vitro hemolysis study has been conducted in order to determine the effects of pump rate and pump filling in the Penn State-Arrow left ventricular assist device. The nominal pump rates observed were 120 or 70 beats per minute, and the nominal pump filling was maintained in either the normal range (97%) or the abnormal range (84%). A new small volume mock circulatory loop has been designed and assembled which closely mimics clinical operating conditions. This study showed that incomplete filling is more hemolytic than increased pump rate in the case of these nominal parameters.