Evaluation of flow structures formed in a blood pump using Large Eddy Simulations

Extracorporeal membrane oxygenation (ECMO) is a last resort treatment for critically ill patients in need of lung and/or heart support. In ECMO, the patient's blood is pumped through a circuit composed of a blood pump, oxygenator, tubing, cannulae, and connectors exposing the blood components to highly unsteady flow fields. The formation of blood clots can be triggered by these local flow conditions in which areas characterized by high shear and prolonged residence time are particularly problematic. This study focuses on characterizing flow structures formed in the diagonal ECMO pump DP3 (Xenios Ag., Heilbronn, Germany). Large Eddy Simulations (LES) was used to assess pump performance during different operational conditions, identifying canonical flow structures formed within the pump. With an increased understanding of the flow structures developing in the pump, pump designs could be improved and potentially reduce complication risks and thus contribute to provide a gentler treatment to the patient.