Hydraulic performance and physiological compatibility of an extracorporeal centrifugal blood pump during startup

Cardiovascular diseases are the leading cause of morbidity and mortality worldwide. Extracorporeal centrifugal blood pumps are crucial medical devices for patient treatment. Most research focuses on steady state performance of the pumps, while the transient characteristics during startup also requires further investigation, which could significantly affect hydraulic performance and physiological compatibility. This study employs numerical simulations, supported by experimental validation, to analyze the hydraulic performance, flow structure, pressure fluctuations, and physiological compatibility of a self-developed extracorporeal centrifugal blood pump during the startup processes with three startup modes with varying angular acceleration profiles. The results show that the startup mode with gradually increasing acceleration exhibits more stable pressure fluctuations and better physiological compatibility, while the mode with gradually decreasing acceleration demonstrates more stable hydraulic performance. The results provide experimental data and theoretical support for blood pump startup processes and valuable guidance for selecting appropriate startup modes during emergency scenarios. Moreover, the results can offer insights for the development of intelligent startup systems for extracorporeal centrifugal blood pumps in the future and insights for pulsatile blood pump research.