Shape optimisation of a ventricular assist device using a VADFEM computer program.

The Polish ventricular assist device, POLVAD_EXT, is made of a polymer designed to be covered with a nanocoating of titanium nitride to improve haemocompatibility. A loss of cohesion can occur between the coating and the substrate. An analysis of stress and strain states in a multi-scale model of the blood chamber was performed in the finite element computer program, VADFEM. The multiscale model is composed of a macro model of the blood chamber and a micro model of the titanium nitride (TiN) deposited on the polymer. The finite element method and the goal function, based on the triaxiality factor, are used to solve the problems formulated. The theories of non-linear elasticity and elasto-plasticity are applied. The goal of the paper is to optimise the construction of the POLVAD_EXT with respect to shape parameters.