黑料福利网

The gold-standard treatment for patients with advanced heart failure is heart transplantation. However, the severe shortage of donor hearts results in high waiting-list mortality. As a bridge to transplantation, these patients often receive a ventricular assist device (VAD) that supports or replaces the pumping function of the heart. However, quality of life remains limited. To address the shortage of donor hearts and improve the quality of life of patients with advanced heart failure, the Holland Hybrid Heart consortium aims to develop a total artificial heart capable of replacing the function of the native heart.

Thrombosis is one of the major challenges in the development of blood-contacting medical devices, such as total artificial hearts and ventricular assist devices. Thrombosis can lead to blood clot formation, which may obstruct blood flow and cause serious complications. Therefore, a better understanding of thrombus formation is essential for reducing the risk of thrombosis in blood-contacting medical devices.

Computational modeling can be a valuable tool for gaining insight into complex processes such as thrombosis. The versatility of computational models enables the evaluation of multiple device designs and material interactions. These models should account for both the hemodynamic and biochemical aspects of thrombus formation. The goal of this project is to develop and validate a computational model that can predict thrombus formation and support the design optimization of blood-contacting medical devices.

Prof.dr.ir. Frans van de Vosse

This project is part of the  consortium