Date of Award

Fall 11-2015

Access Type

Thesis - Open Access

Degree Name

Master of Science in Mechanical Engineering

Department

Mechanical Engineering

Committee Chair

Eduardo Divo

First Committee Member

Jean-Michel Dhainaut

Second Committee Member

Victor Huayamave

Abstract

Out of all newborn infants with congenital heart disease (CHD), 8% have a single functioning ventricle. The Fontan surgical procedure, where the superior and inferior venous returns are connected directly to the pulmonary arteries to allow the single functioning ventricle to perfuse the systemic circulation, has been around for decades, yet the patients who undergo this operation suffer from chronic illnesses and their survivability is less than 50% by adulthood [1-10]. Some suggest that the Fontan operation can be improved by implanting a synthetic pump. However, synthetic pumps also present some complications due to mechanical failure, risk of stroke, and risk of infection [23-30]. The purpose of this study is to numerically simulate the hemodynamics of a self-powered Fontan circulation aided by the reserve ventricular energy captured by the entrainment effect of an Injection Jet Shunt (IJS). A simulation is created to identify important physiological parameters caused be the IJS. By numerically approximating the solution using a lumped parameter model (LPM) of a single ventricle cardiovascular system, the physiological parameters can be approximated. Systemic flow, pulmonary flow, caval pressure and ratio between the pulmonary and systemic flows will be determined to verify whether the IJS is beneficial to the Fontan circulation.

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