Scientists of the University of Tokyo use PTC Creo during creation of artificial heart

February 4, 2015. The PTC company reports^[1]that graduate students of the University of Tokyo work on creation of artificial heart, using PTC Creo. The advanced opportunities of three-dimensional modeling of PTC Creo should help a scientific team of the oldest university in Japan to create completely implanted full-fledged artificial heart by 2016.

By estimates of the World Health Organization (WHO), around the world more than 20 million people suffer from heart failure, and this number increases by two million annually. Every year about 5,000 operations on heart transplantation are around the world executed. According to the statistics, in Japan the average time of waiting before transaction is 981 days. Growth of number of the people suffering from heart failure against the background of extreme deficit of donor hearts is the main incentive for carrying out researches in the field of creation of artificial heart. Emergence of the artificial heart implant capable to replace with a full-fledged image this human heart, will become this revolution in medicine. The University of Tokyo researches in the field of creation of artificial heart since 1959, and since 1970 carries out successful tests with participation of animals. The solution PTC Creo is used by scientists for design of full-fledged artificial heart with the hydrodynamic levitating driving wheel for which lubricant in the pump (a hydrodynamic support) blood is used. Such constructive solution promises cardinal reliability augmentation.

The University of Tokyo began to use Pro/ENGINEER, the predecessor of the solution PTC Creo, for creation of three-dimensional models in design process of artificial heart in 2003 and passed to the solution PTC Creo in 2012. Having implemented a CAD from PTC, scientists got the general access to visual information on models and are going to use it software for the solution of such tasks as the maximum performance improvement of the device, and also for creation of the pump optimizing blood circulation – according to researchers, for full-fledged artificial heart of new generation will be required to its efficiency and reliability the contactless centrifugal pump.

Function of three-dimensional modeling PTC Creo also plays an important role in development of parts of the equipment and digital design of hydrodynamic processes. Using PTC Creo software, in October, 2014 the group of scientists of the University of Tokyo could improve cardinally stability of a hydrodynamic support in model of artificial heart and also successfully resolve several hemolytic and trombotichesky problems. PTC Creo supports also a possibility of daily joint work: in such mode specialists can create and provide each other evident 3-D versions of design solutions with transverse sections and animation of design models.

"The solution PTC Creo became an important component of our development environment and the standard program for group of specialists which is engaged in creation of artificial heart, – Takashi Isoyama, the candidate of science, the associate professor of design of survival facilities of the person at a medical postgraduate study of the University of Tokyo says and the member of research group on creation of artificial heart. – In addition to development of different parts of the equipment, in the solution PTC Creo support of design processes and design researches is successfully implemented that allows us to progress considerably in implementation of effective objectives".

"We with pleasure joined in the innovation researches which are conducted in the University of Tokyo, – John Stuart, the senior vice president of division of global formation of PTC tells. – We are convinced of PTC company that steady success of our company, our clients and all society depends on what means and opportunities each generation for the solution of the pressing problems facing them locates. Researches in the field of creation of full-fledged artificial heart – the excellent example showing how educational institutions use the advanced technological solutions PTC for training of students for effective professional activity".

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