Detail

Keywords

Computer Simulation; Computer-Aided Design; Heart-Assist Devices; Hemolysis; In Vitro; Numerical Analysis, Computer-Assisted

Research group(s)

• CARE - Cardiovascular Research and Engineering
  Members:
  Christoph Gross
  Barbara Karner
  Andreas Escher
  Marcus Granegger
  Sarah Linnemeier
  Bente Thamsen
  Theodor Abart
  Rosmarie Schoefbeck
  Krishnaraj Narayanaswamy
  Pascal Schmidt

Research interests

My research focuses primarily on designing and developing mechanical circulatory support devices to address unmet medical needs in heart failure patients. 

Despite substantial research efforts, there remains a significant gap in addressing biventricular failure, where current options primarily serve as temporary solutions, bridging patients to transplantation. A suitable total artificial heart (TAH) for long-term destination therapy remains elusive due to limitations associated with the existing pumping mechanisms used in these devices. My primary focus centers on the development of a novel total artificial heart, incorporating an innovative pumping principle that shows promise in overcoming the shortcomings of current pumping techniques. This novel approach may offer a viable long-term solution for destination therapy.

Numerical evaluations have demonstrated the advantages of this novel pumping principle in terms of hemocompatibility, and currently progressing with in vitro validation.In addition, my research also encompasses in vitro experiments aimed at evaluating hemolysis, further enhancing our understanding of the hemocompatibility of these mechanical circulatory support devices and other artifacts involved in the test loop.

Selected publications

1. Bierewirtz, T. et al. (2023) ‘A Novel Pumping Principle for a Total Artificial Heart’, IEEE Transactions on Biomedical Engineering, pp. 1–10. Available at: http://dx.doi.org/10.1109/tbme.2023.3306888.
2. Giuffrida, R.V. et al. (2023) ‘Design and Realization of a Highly Compact Tubular Linear Actuator for a Novel Total Artificial Heart’, IEEE Journal of Emerging and Selected Topics in Industrial Electronics, 4(4), pp. 1010–1023. Available at: http://dx.doi.org/10.1109/jestie.2023.3305939.
3. He, X. et al. (2023) ‘Left Atrial Decompression With the HeartMate3 in Heart Failure With Preserved Ejection Fraction: Virtual Fitting and Hemodynamic Analysis’, ASAIO Journal [Preprint]. Available at: https://doi.org/10.1097/mat.0000000000002074. Available at: http://dx.doi.org/.
4. Karner, B. et al. (2023) ‘Anatomical Compliance of Cavopulmonary Assist Device Designs: A Virtual Fitting Study in Fontan Patients’, ASAIO Journal, 69(11), pp. 1016–1024. Available at: https://doi.org/10.1097/mat.0000000000002013. Available at: http://dx.doi.org/.
5. Giuffrida, R.V. et al. (2023) ‘Spatially Highly-Constrained Auxiliary Rotary Actuator for a Novel Total Artificial Heart’, IEEE Open Journal of the Industrial Electronics Society, pp. 1–16. Available at: https://doi.org/10.1109/ojies.2023.3339838. Available at: http://dx.doi.org/.