Design and evaluation of a blood pump to support the Fontan circulation - 2026_CDR_DCMC_5
Single ventricle defects are among the most severe forms of congenital heart disease and are palliated through a series of surgeries culminating in the Fontan procedure. Although patient survival is substantially improved, progressive circulatory failure may develop over time, requiring heart support. However, current ventricular assist devices are poorly suited to the unique physiology of the Fontan circulation.To address this unmet clinical need, this project will investigate the feasibility of a minimally invasive pump designed for chronic Fontan support without requiring additional open-heart surgery.Computational modelling will be used to: i) develop the structural design of a pumping system suitable for catheter-based delivery and stable deployment in the venae cavae of Fontan patients, ii) assess improvements in circulatory flows and pressures by investigating the interaction between the pump and the native circulation.
Selection process