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Hydrodynamic evaluation of a new dispersive aortic cannula (Stealthflow)

Journal of Artificial Organs volume 19, pages 121–127 (2016)Cite this article

Abstract

The aim of this study was to evaluate flow from a new dispersive aortic cannula (Stealthflow) in the aortic arch using flow visualization methods. Particle image velocimetry was used to analyze flow dynamics in the mock aortic model. Flow patterns, velocity distribution, and streamlines with different shape cannulas were evaluated in a glass aortic arch model. We compared flow parameters in two different dispersive type cannulas: the Stealthflow and the Soft-flow cannula. A large vortex and regurgitant flow were observed in the aortic arch with both cannulas. With the Stealthflow cannula, a high-velocity area with a maximum velocity of 0.68 m/s appeared on the ostium of the cannula in the longitudinal plane. With the Soft-flow cannula, ‘multiple jet streams, each with a velocity less than 0.60 m/s, were observed at the cannula outlet. Regurgitant flow from the cannula to the brachiocephalic artery and to the ascending aorta on the greater curvature was specific to the Soft-flow cannula. The degree of regurgitation on the same site was lower with the Stealthflow cannula than with the Soft-flow cannula. The Stealthflow cannula has similar flow properties to those of the Soft-flow cannula according to glass aortic model analysis. It generates gentle flow in the aortic arch and slow flow around the ostia of the aortic arch vessels. The Stealthflow cannula is as effective as the Soft-flow cannula. Care must be taken when the patient has thick atheromatous plaque or frail atheroma on the lesser curvature of the aortic arch.

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Acknowledgments

We thank Masanori Ochi and Ryota Sakabe for their assistance with PIV analysis. This study was supported by JSPS KAKENHI Grant Number 24592044.

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Affiliations

  1. Department of Thoracic and Cardiovascular Surgery, Hirosaki University Graduate School of Medicine, Hirosaki, Japan

    Takeshi Goto, Wakako Fukuda, Ikuo Fukuda, Kazuyuki Daitoku & Masahito Minakawa

  2. Department of Intelligent Machines and System Engineering, Faculty of Science and Technology, Hirosaki University, Hirosaki, Japan

    Takao Inamura

  3. Physics of Fluids Group, Faculty of Science and Technology, University of Twente, Enschede, The Netherlands

    Minori Shirota

  4. Department of Cardiovascular Surgery, Aomori Municipal Hospital, Aomori, Japan

    Kazuo Ito

Authors
  1. Takeshi Goto
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  2. Takao Inamura
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  3. Minori Shirota
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  4. Wakako Fukuda
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  5. Ikuo Fukuda
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  6. Kazuyuki Daitoku
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  7. Masahito Minakawa
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  8. Kazuo Ito
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Corresponding author

Correspondence to Takeshi Goto.

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Conflict of interest

Dr. Ikuo Fukuda is an inventor of the Stealthflow cannula. All other authors declare that they have no conflicts of interest.

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Goto, T., Inamura, T., Shirota, M. et al. Hydrodynamic evaluation of a new dispersive aortic cannula (Stealthflow). J Artif Organs 19, 121–127 (2016). https://doi.org/10.1007/s10047-015-0869-2

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s10047-015-0869-2

Keywords

  • Extracorporeal circulation
  • Aortic perfusion
  • Sandblast effect
  • Shear stress