three-dimensional numerical simulations of the aortic flow in presence of a left ventricle assist device

Cardiovascular diseases are considered to be the main cause of death in developed countries. Due to limitations resulting in-vivo measurements of velocity, the analysis and evaluation of hemodynamic parameters by means of computational simulations become the only efficient solution, especially in pathological or assisted condition cases. The aim of this study is to analyze, through a CFD model, the hemodynamic effects of a continuous flow Left Ventricle Assist Device (LVAD) evaluated in three different working conditions. The proposed model provides a computational fluid dynamics analysis of LVAD inserted into the descending aorta in order to evaluate flow distribution at the most interesting aorta branches. The results show the development of the flow in three different cases, showing that the LVAD investigated is able to regulate flow in the aorta.