Modelling Techniques for the Development of Artificial Organs

The demand for donor organs exceeds the supply, necessitating the development of alternative, devicebased artificial organs. These devices are essential not only for bridging patients to transplantation but also as potential permanent solutions to organ failure. To ensure these devices function safely and effectively at the intersection of biology, fluid dynamics, chemistry, mechanical engineering, and medicine, extensive testing under realistic conditions is crucial. However, current experimental models, such as mock circulations and animal experiments, are often costly, time-consuming, and fail to fully replicate human pathophysiology. These limitations contribute to high development costs, risks, and failure rates in the clinical translation of artificial organs. In this context, in-silico methods are increasingly important in the design and approval process of complex medical devices. Computational simulations can significantly reduce risks and failure rates by allowing for the screening of numerous scenarios and predicting critical events in "virtual patients." These simulations can uncover issues that are not detectable in traditional laboratory setups, offering unprecedented insights into human-machine interactions, such as detailed flow field information across the entire domain. This is particularly valuable in blood-wetted artificial organs, where early-stage predictions of hemocompatibility issues, such as blood damage and thrombosis, can lead to improved designs. The flexibility of numerical models allows for the incorporation of realistic boundary conditions-such as moving geometries and a wide range of pressure and flow conditions-and complex physiological mechanisms, including non-Newtonian flow phenomena. However, the computational intensity of these simulations necessitates efficient and accurate modeling strategies to deliver results in time. As a result, numerical simulations often involve problem idealization and approximation. Patient-specific geometries and fluid properties introduce inherent uncertainties, making the validation of computational methodologies and uncertainty quantification essential for reliable predictions. Berlin Heart GmbH is among the market leaders in the sector, upholding the highest standards in reliability and precision for innovative VADs for mechanical circulatory support, and will present their approach to utilizing numerical simulations from a manufacturer’s perspective. This course provides participants with the fundamental framework to understand and conduct computational simulations in bio-fluidic applications. Designed for graduate students, physicians and researchers in medical, applied, and engineering sciences with an interest in biomechanics, the course offers an overview of numerical simulation methods to guide the design and application of artificial organs. Topics range from an introduction to the basic physiology of the respiratory and cardiovascular systems to advanced numerical simulation methods that capture complex human-machine interactions in moving organs. Emphasis is placed on modeling boundary conditions, turbulent flow regimes, and non-Newtonian flow behavior. The lecture series is complemented by poster sessions, where participants can present their work and foster cross-disciplinary collaborations.