The course is aimed at providing the students the proper methodology to design and evaluate life support systems and artificial internal organs, namely artificial lung/ventilation systems, artificial kidney/dialysis therapy, artificial pancreas, artificial heart/ventricular assist devices. The machine to patient interaction will be also focused and discussed. After an introduction of the basic physiology of the native internal organs, the design of life support systems will be faced based on the mechanical and physical principles taking place in them. Energy supply and converters will be studied and optimized as a function of the specific application. Criteria on how optimize the performances of the systems will be given with relation to the specific needs of the patient.

Students are expected to acquire knowledge about the design procedures and evaluation modalities of either implantable or para- or extra-corporeal life support systems

Description of the course

Hints about functional anatomy and physiology of internal organs. Settings and control mechanisms. Design criteria and optimisation of life support systems devices/artificial internal organs, and choice of the optimal machine to patient interface. Optimization criteria for the setting of the device. Mass transfer in solutions and through artificial membranes. Design and optimisation of dialysis filters and oxygenators. Design and optimization of blood pumps. Energy sources and converters. Efficiency evaluation and optimisation criteria of the systems. Information about the international standards prescription related to the testing and the production of life support systems will be also given.

Practical class activities will deal with the solution of problems related to the design and setting of the studied life support system.

The final exam will consist in a written test which in specific cases can be followed by an oral exam.