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Mechanical Behavior and Stability of the Internal Membrane of the InCor Ventricular Assist Device
Author(s) -
Da Costa Teixeira Pedro Baroni,
Gonçalves Paulo Batista,
Cestari Idágene A.,
Leirner Adolfo A.,
Pamplona Djenane
Publication year - 2001
Publication title -
artificial organs
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 0.684
H-Index - 76
eISSN - 1525-1594
pISSN - 0160-564X
DOI - 10.1046/j.1525-1594.2001.06903.x
Subject(s) - durability , deflection (physics) , finite element method , structural engineering , membrane , materials science , engineering , mechanical engineering , computer science , biomedical engineering , composite material , physics , chemistry , biochemistry , optics
This paper describes and analyzes the mechanical behavior of the internal membrane of the InCor VAD (Heart Institute [InCor], University of São Paulo, Brazil), applying the knowledge and tools of structural engineering analysis. This membrane plays an important role in the operation of the ventricular assist device (VAD) because it separates the blood chamber from the pneumatic one, transmitting the pneumatic load to the blood, thus making the desired blood flow possible. The loading repeats itself every time the VAD beats. Therefore the performance, reliability, and durability of the membrane are critical for the performance of the VAD. The mathematical model is based on the large deflection theory of thin shells and on the finite element method. The snap‐through instability phenomenon, which is responsible for transmission of the pneumatic load to the blood, was observed in the membrane both when modeled mathematically and experimentally. Principal stresses and strain distributions were obtained with this model at certain load levels along the pre‐ and postbuckling paths.