3D-Printed Total Artificial Heart Emergency Driver

For junior design, my team was first asked to come up with a need related to something we had done in one of our previous classes — we had learned about total artificial hearts (TAHs). One such TAH is the Freedom Driver 2, which allows the patient to travel outside of the hospital with a pump for their TAH in a wearable backpack.

I know the skills Drexel has taught me will make me prepared to conquer this new task and I'm excited for the challenge!   

My team and I noticed that there was no current solution for if the TAH failed outside of the hospital, as the only current solution wasn't portable and CPR isn't an option. So we got to work, first laying out our needs, requirements, and constraints. Once this was done, I took it upon myself to computer-aided design (CAD) a 3D model of our solution that would allow a user to turn a crank that would drive a piston and inflate and deflate the TAH. This meant that all that needed to be done was to switch the drive lines and then turn the crank and the person could stay alive while waiting for the ambulance arrived.

Once the design was finished, I found all of the components I couldn't 3D-print, mainly the pistons bearings and tubing, and put in a purchase request. While that was being processed, I began to modulate my CAD so that it could be easily 3D-printed on my PRUSA mini and then assembled with a few bolts. After some constructive input from my professors, I added some feet to the design as well as a handle. With the ordered parts in hand, my team and I began to assemble the device, and after some minor modifications, we began to test it.

Our tests were to check to see if an appropriate beats per minute of 110 was possible and to confirm the air output. Both tests were analyzed statistically to be a success, proving that our device worked. Overall, this project was a joy to work on and really allowed me to scratch the engineering itch that I have come to acquire at Drexel. Now I am working on my senior project where we plan to develop a solution to prevent wrist fatigue for blind cane users. I know the skills Drexel has taught me will make me prepared to conquer this new task and I'm excited for the challenge!