PediaFlow® Pediatric VAD

PediaFlow PF4 Design

LaunchPoint Technologies Inc., in collaboration with the PediaFlow Consortium,  has recently completed the fourth design iteration (PF4) of the PediaFlowTM Pediatric Ventricular Assist Device (VAD).  The PediaFlow  VAD was developed for infants and toddlers with congential and acquired heart disease as part of the $23.6 million NIH-funded PumpKIN Program (Pumps for Kids, Infants, and Neonates).

LaunchPoint engineers were responsible for the maglev pump system design and optimization via analytical modeling, finite element analysis and CFD modeling.  LaunchPoint's in-house fabrication facilities enabled the team to build, verify, and improve pump designs based on modeling results and surgeon feedback. The complete end-to-end control of pump system design, manufacturing, and bench-top testing were critical to the success of the pump technology development.

Key attributes of the PediaFlow™ Pediatric VAD include:

  • Unparalleled biocompatibility  due to our maglev technology, streamlined single-flow-path design, and computer-optimized design process;

  • Exceptionally small due to our supercritical (above resonance frequency) rotordynamic technology;

  • Valveless turbodynamic design with one moving part to minimize size;

  • Computationally optimized using first principles of bioengineering and physics.

PediaFlow Design Evolution

PediaFlow VAD Design EvolutionThe current VAD design arose from the comprehensive evaluation of three pump topologies incorporating a variety of magnetic suspension, motor, and fluid path arrangements. Each of the selected topologies utilized permanent magnet radial and moment bearings, an active axial thrust bearing, and a brushless DC motor. The team conducted rigorous computational fluid dynamics (CFD) analyses of the corresponding flow path geometries and selected the configuration based on its preferred size for clinical implantation, shape, manufacturability, suspension robustness, and unique streamlined flow path that obviated recirculating flow or blood-filled clearances.

View the Discovery Channel podcast below to learn more about the PediaFlow Pediatric VAD and how it will help children with heart disease:

 

References

Noh, M.D., Antaki, J.F., Ricci, M., Gardiner, J., Paden, D., Wu, J., Prem, E., Borovetz, H.S. and Paden, B.E. Magnetic Design for the PediaFlow™ Ventricular Assist Device. ARTIFICIAL ORGANS 2008 32(2): 127-135.

Gardiner, J.M., Wu, J., Noh, M.D., Antaki, J.F., Snyder, T.A., Paden, D.B. and Paden, B.E. Thermal Analysis of the PediaFlow Pediatric Ventricular Assist Device. ASAIO Journal 2007; 53:65-73.

Borovetz, Harvey S., et. al., Towards the Development of a Pediatric Ventricular Assist Device. Cell Transplantation, Volume 15, Supplement 1, 2006, pp. 69-74(6).

Noh, M.D., Antaki, J.F., Ricci, M., Prem, E., Borovetz, H.S., and Paden, B.E. Magnetic Levitation Design for the PediaFlow™ Ventricular Assist Device. Proceedings of 2005 IEEE/ASME International Conference on Advanced Intelligent Mechatronics, 2005, pp. 1077–1082.