Background: C-Pulse is a new, nonblood contacting device based on the concept of counter-pulsation that is designed for long-term implantation. However, there is a lack of comprehensive investigation of the pressure and velocity fields under the action of C-Pulse. Aim: In this paper, we aim to conduct a numerical simulation of the underlying mechanism of the device in order to analyze its performance and related undesirable issues. Materials & methods: A 3D finite element model is utilized to simulate the mechanism of the blood pumping. Results & conclusion: The simulation well reproduced the essential characteristics of the C-Pulse. Preliminary results were in a reasonable range while a couple of irregular flow patterns were identified.
Keywords: C-Pulse; blood flow; finite element method; fluid-structure interaction; numerical simulation.