Cardiac, Vascular and Neural Implants

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shear rates is complicated by the fact that blood is a non-Newtonian fluid with high-suspended particle content. Clotting of blood is unacceptable yet easily provoked by mechanical structures. For instance, the shaft of an artificial heart pump is observed to act as a site for clotting [Akatmatsu]. For this reason, a shaft-less pump with a magnetically suspended impeller is preferred. However, it should be noted that the lower efficiency of magnetic suspension compared to a shaft drive would lead to a higher heat emission for a given flow output. Clotting is manifested in the following ways, formation of a thrombus, formation of a fibrin network over the implant surface and cell adhesion [Iwasaki et al., Swier et al., 1989]. Besides the destructive effects caused by fluid flow in the blood pump operational factors such as cavitations can lead to hemolysis and destruct system components. Therefore it is important to take these factors into consideration and avoid regions of stagnation, recirculation and low wall shear stress [Tran et al.; Park et al.; Basmadjian; Norris] The normal human heart beats approximately 38 million times a year which means a mechanical heart valve with a life of 5 years would require to operate for at least 190 million times (without taking into consideration of light exercises performed by the patient). Since the operational environment of heart valve is hostile to artificial materials, it is imperative for the designer to take in to consideration these factors before deciding on the particular material. Blood and extra-cellular fluids are extremely corrosive and can promote various forms of corrosion in metallic materials. On the other hand use of polymeric materials in devices such as vascular catheters or external rings on heart valves may be susceptible to diffusion of mass across these materials by e.g., water, oxygen and carbon dioxide. Excessive erosive and cavitation wear may also occur during transport of fluids. A significant factor in the use of prosthetic implants is the inhibition to coagulation. Therefore a balance of anticoagulant properties and procoagulation of prosthetic implants are essential. 5.3.3 Wear and fracture of heart valves Mechanical durability of heart valves depends on the properties of materials used and a material with a good biocompatibility may be inferior when durability is considered. Problems associated with the