Left Ventricular Assist Devices (LVADs) are small implantable blood pumps supporting the blood circulation in end-stage heart failure patients. A tiny rotor rotating at thousands of revolutions per minute pumps blood from the left ventricle to the ascending aorta. The supraphysiological stresses damage blood cells and cause serious complications, including thrombosis, stroke, and bleeding. In the CFM lab at Georgia Tech, we use novel designs and innovative materials to reduce the blood damage related to LVADs.
