B.E./M.E., Mechanical Engineering, Yale University, 1963/64
Ph.D., Mechanical Engineering, Northwestern University, 1972

PO Box 400746
Mechanical Engineering Building
University of Virginia
Charlottesville, VA 22908

(434) 924-6209

pea@virginia.edu

Research Interests

We are conducting research in mechanical artificial hearts for use in patients with longterm congestive heart failure and other major circulatory blood problems. The mechanical heart will be employed as an assist device, working with the normal left or right ventricle to provide six to ten liters per minute of additional flow at about 100 mm Hg.

A series of continuous flow mechanical heart prototypes have been constructed and tested in benchtop testing with water and blood. Also, a successful animal test has been carried out. The pumps include the world’s first fully magnetically suspended pump, leading to expectations of a 15- to 20-year life. This is not a shortterm bridge to a transplant device but a longterm permanent heart assist device.

NIH is funding the development of a new prototype, approximately the size of a hockey puck. It is magnetically suspended using a combination of permanent and electromagnets with very low power consumption. The pump flow path is carefully designed with extensive use of computational fluid mechanics analysis. The flows in the pump are measured with advanced particle image velocimetry, to insure that there are no flows stagnating or undergoing excessive shearing inside the pump. Extensive animal and human testing is planned in the near future for the fourth prototype ventricular assist heart pump.

Recent Publications

Bennett BC, Riley PO, Franz JR, Dicharry J, Allaire PE, Miller S, Kerrigan DC
Controlled partial body-weight support for treadmill training-a case study.

Untaroiu A, Wood HG, Allaire PE
Numerical evaluation of blood damage in a magnetically levitated heart pump - biomed 2009.

Untaroiu A, Wood HG, Allaire PE
Implantable axialflow blood pump for left ventricular support.

Franz JR, Riley PO, Dicharry J, Allaire PE, Kerrigan DC
Gait synchronized force modulation during the stance period of one limb achieved by an active partial body weight support system.

Throckmorton AL, Untaroiu A, Allaire PE, Wood HG, Lim DS, McCulloch MA, Olsen DB
Numerical design and experimental hydraulic testing of an axial flow ventricular assist device for infants and children.

More Publications