A Multiple Disk Centrifugal Pump as an Artifical Ventricle
A pulsatile, multiple disk, centrifugal pump has been analysed and tested for potential use as an artificial ventricle. The pump is similar to a Tesla Turbine design which consists of a series of parallel annular disks embedded inside a collector housing. This valveless pump is operated in a pulsatile mode by controlling the voltage to a DC drive motor. Pressures and flows at both the inlet and outlet of the pump were monitored over a wide range of operating conditions. Results indicated excellent agreement with physiological values of the natural heart as well as similar data from other designs of artificial ventricles.