The joint project of the MIET Institute of Biomedical Systems and the Institute of Biomedical Materials of Martin Luther University in Wittenberg (Germany) entitled “Research on the problem of increasing biocompatibility in the Sputnik rotary blood pump by developing a new geometry and anticoagulant coating of a new generation” was supported by the Russian Science Foundation.

Deadlines: 2020-2022.

Recall that the scientists of the Institute of Biomedical Systems NRU MIET are the developers of the first Russian satellite-assisted circulation apparatus Sputnik.

Acute and chronic heart failure is one of the main problems of modern medicine in Europe and Russia. While transplantation is the best solution for treating heart failure, in most cases donor hearts are not enough for each patient. Auxiliary circulatory devices, as implantable axial pumps, ensure the maintenance of the health of patients. Due to a shortage of donor organs, blood circulation assistants often become the only solution.

However, despite the great success of these devices in clinical practice, there are still a number of problems associated with assisted circulatory devices, such as the risk of thrombosis, bleeding, infection and hemolysis. To improve the properties of the pump, one of the key areas of research is to change the geometric parameters of the pump design, especially the optimization of the design of the conductive flow path, as well as rotational parts.

Another direction is the development of a new anticoagulation coating based on covalent bonding of the primary layer of heparin on a metal carrier, which will be gradually coated with layers of physically adsorbed heparin. This will help to reduce the number of anticoagulants, which will lead to a decrease in bleeding and long-term use of the apparatus of auxiliary blood circulation in critically ill patients suffering from acute and chronic heart failure.

The project aims to develop a new axial blood pump, which should have an optimized design to reduce shear damage to blood cells and von Willebrand factor. Changes in the design of the pump geometry and surface coatings can help improve long-term blood compatibility. This may allow the use of an auxiliary circulatory apparatus as a therapy for chronic heart failure.