We pride ourselves in being responsive to each client’s particular needs, from initial, quick concept development analyses to in-depth, highly complex multi-disciplinary analyses.
We have worked on projects in a number of disciplines within the healthcare field.
- Cardiovascular
- Orthopedic
- Ophthalmology
- Respiratory
- Diagnostic equipment
- Laboratory Instrumentation
Previous Healthcare Projects
Centrifugal Blood Pump Modeling
For over ten years, the SimuTech Group has applied CFD in the design of left and right ventricular assist devices as well as total artificial hearts. Our focus has been on providing insight to help guide the development of these new blood pumps. The goal being to provide the desired hydraulic performance and also minimize regions of sustained high and low shear that could lead to blood damage or thrombus formation.
Patient-Specific Computational Modeling
An exciting and growing area of focus in healthcare is patient-specific computational modeling. Such modeling, based upon three-dimensional imaging reconstruction of a patient’s anatomy, can help clinicians plan their surgical approaches or evaluate a new device’s performance under simulated clinical conditions.
Learn more about patient-specific computational modeling from our 2018 NAFEMS presentation: Using Computational Fluid Dynamics to Predict the Effects of a Mandibular Repositioning Device on the Airway of Patients with Obstructive Sleep Apnea
Artificial Kidney and Pancreas Projects
Another area of focus for the SimuTech Group has been in applying CFD to help advance the development of new artificial kidney and pancreas devices. In addition to optimizing the flow path to improve mass transfer, we have applied particle tracking methods to assess the likelihood of platelet activation when flowing through such devices.
Learn more about the platelet activation modeling in support of the artificial kidney project from our 2018 Journal of Biomechanics article: Platelet stress accumulation analysis to predict thrombogenicity of an artificial kidney
Applications
Cardiovascular Devices
- Rotary blood pumps (CFD)
- Blood oxygenators (CFD)
- Blood heat exchangers (CFD)
- Cardiac catheters (CFD)
- Thermal balloon catheters (CFD)
- Atherectomy devices (CFD)
- Miniaturized implantable renal assist device (CFD)
- Miniaturized Blood Oxygenator (CFD)
- MEMS drug delivery catheter (CFD)
- Laparoscopic fluid delivery device (CFD)
- Cover for blood cell separator (FEA)
Orthopedics
- Spinal implants (FEA)
- Surgical cooling device (CFD)
Ophthalmology
- Replacement lens for cataracts surgery (FEA)
- Contact lens on cornea (CFD)
Respiratory
- Particle deposition in the human lungs (CFD)
- Percussion bed simulation (FEA)
- Effect of mandibular repositioning device on airway of patients with obstructive sleep apnea (CFD)
Other Healthcare Applications
- Magnetic stem cell separation device (CFD)
- Thermal modeling of human skin (CFD)
- Medical imaging machine frame (FEA)
- Connector design for breathing apparatus (FEA)
- Predicting air flow patterns within the surgical suite for infection control (CFD)