itetreau@ualberta.ca
Undergraduate Co-op
Biomedical Mechanical Engineering
Ex-Vivo Heart Perfusion Project

Research Interests : Biomedical Engineering, Fluid Mechanics, Mechanical Design, Ex-Vivo Heart Perfusion, Prosthetics

Ex-vivo heart perfusion (EVHP) is a method to preserve the natural beating function of a donor heart outside the human body. Using an EVHP system, donor hearts can be preserved and monitored outside the body, and the time window between donation and transplantation can be significantly extended. An experimental test loop simulating the pumping cycle of the left side of the heart has been developed to evaluate the effect of fluid dynamics on the EHVP system performance. My work on this project focused on the development of silicon tri-leaflet valves to provide correct flow conditions within the test loop. This involved developing a Solidworks model of the tri-leaflet valves and molds, simulation of fluid flow into the mold and mold strength, 3D-printing the molds and casting the valves in several different silicones, and testing valve performance inside the pump loop. In addition, I also helped with the development of compliant silicone tubes designed to simulate the human aorta, a soft silicone 'trampoline' which would cradle the donor heart and connect it to other components of the EVHP system, and design and construction of a pressure chamber to control distention of the mock aorta and an optical chamber to enable imaging of the flow field exiting the tri-leaflet valve.