Optimization of a test setup for examining blood damage caused by high shear forces

Abstract

If blood pumps are applied in the human body or extracorporeal, blood damage can be caused by shear forces that act on the blood during the delivery. For an accelerated development of blood pumps with help of simulations there is a need for reliable limit values for shear forces. To determine these limit values a shear force test setup was built at the Institute for Multiphase Processes. In the context of the presented master thesis the former test setup peripheral devices were evaluated, possible blood damage mechanisms were considered, blood analysis in different experiments to identify the blood damage caused by different elements were made and peripheral devices were replaced. At the same time the shear chamber was constructional reengineered in a project thesis [1]. We were able to show, that in former works the blood damage caused by test setup peripheral devices had heterodyned the results. Finally the test setup was rebuilt with the results and a test was made. Two findings of the thesis are a reduction of about 60% of the number of components in the blood-conveying tube system and an application of a new fluid seal.