An effort is underway at the CCF to determine how variation in test characteristics may affect the pump results. It will be possible to create a test standard with a scientific basis. A more fundamental understanding of factors relating to blood fragility may also be obtained. A third research area is pump design technology. Industrial rotary pump technology has been developed for water as the working medium.
Blood is a significantly different fluid.
Blood pumps are also in a new range of pressure and flow, as compared to the usual commercial pump applications. The goal of this research is to develop a rational design philosophy for rotary blood pumps. The ultimate goal is to achieve a balanced optimum of performance, efficiency, size, low hemolysis and minimal deposition. Another pump technology thrust is the research and development of a magnetically suspended blood pump rotor, which would address many of the limitations of shaft seal designs now used in commercial blood pumps. The CCF design utilizes pusher plate pumps with biolized surfaces.