Finite Element Analysis on Stellite 17mm Tube Valve for Pediatric Ventricular Assist Device

A Stellite 25 17mm tube valve based upon the Björk-Shiley Monostrut (BSM) valve design was developed for use in the Penn State Pediatric Ventricular Assist Device (PVAD) pump [1]. The hook of the valve was designed to hold a Delrin occluding disc in place while allowing the disc to tilt open 70 degrees from the closed position. Unlike common design constraints which remain in the elastic region, the hook experiences plastic deformation twice during the assembly process, making the material choice of Stellite 25 imperative. Stellite 25 is a cobalt-chromium-tungsten-nickel alloy (Co-20Cr-15W-10Ni) belonging to the material family of superalloys which are commonly used for wear-resistant applications exposed to heat, abrasion, and galling [2, 3]. Along with its excellent in vivo corrosion resistance [4], Stellite 25 exhibits high strength and ductility which permit the hook to be plastically deformed during disc installation while remaining below the strain to failure [3, 4]. Together these qualities make Stellite 25 an ideal material choice for the 17mm tube valve application. Predicting the resultant stresses and strains is critical for determining the safety and structural reliability of the Stellite 25 17mm tube valve for the PVAD after assembly. After performing finite element analysis (FEA), the simulation results were validated by deflection experiments and metallurgical investigations.