3D Printed Blood Pumps

Heart failure is one of the most common causes of death in Western countries. Modern mechanical circulatory support systems (blood pumps) promote survival and improve the quality of life of many patients with heart failure. However, the production of blood pumps is complex and expensive.

Project OPTIFLOW 3D

PROFACTOR, the Medical University of Vienna, Bionic Surface Technologies GmbH, UpNano GmbH, Lithoz GmbH and the AIT Center for Vision, Automation & Control are jointly tackling the task of developing new blood pumps for pediatrics using additive manufacturing processes. This should reduce production costs and offer the possibility to specifically structure the surface to enable ideal biocompatibility.

In the OPTIFLOW 3D project, which is funded by the FFG, various technically and medically unexplored approaches are being investigated and simulated. For example, blood pumps are to be created using additive printing processes, which are provided with very fine surface structures. The compatibility and fluid dynamic influence of these microstructures in the human body is another object of investigation.

An almost ideal flow situation is to be made possible by means of this surface, which promotes or prevents the desired attachment of endothelial cells, depending on the requirements for biocompatibility. These surface structures are to be verified by means of image processing methods and quality assurance during production.