Date of Award

Fall 12-2016

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

Around 8% of all newborns with a Congenital Heart Defect (CHD) have only a single functioning ventricle. The Fontan operation has served as a palliation for this anomaly for decades, but the surgery entails multiple complications and survival rate is less than 50% by adulthood. A rapidly testable novel alternative is proposed by creating a bifurcating graft, or Injection Jet Shunt (IJS), used to “entrain” the pulmonary flow and thus provide assistance while reducing the caval pressure. A benchtop Mock Flow Loop (MFL) is configured to validate this hypothesis. The MFL is based on a Lumped-Parameter Model (LPM) of the Fontan circulation and is comprised of upper and lower systemic as well as left and right pulmonary compartments. Needle valves are used to accurately replicate vascular resistance (R) while compliance chambers are used to mimic vascular compliance values (C). The Fontan MFL is driven with cardiac pulsatility provided by a Harvard Apparatus medical pump. Patient-specific models of the centerpiece of the MFL along with the grafts (IJS) are produced via 3D printing. Baseline values are validated against patient-specific waveforms. Flow and pressure sensor data at specific points in the MFL are acquired via a National Instruments multichannel data acquisition board and processed using LabView. Several IJS nozzle diameters are tested to validate the hypothesis and optimize the improvement.

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