Mechanical seal is installed in EVAHEART®, one of left ventricular assist device, which supports the role of original human heart. Low friction and low leakage are both required for mechanical seal for ventricular assist device to realize longer battery lifetime and less maintenance. In this study, several types of surface texture by combination of laser-induced periodic surface structure (LIPSS) and μm-scaled undulation were fabricated as surface texture on sealing surface of SiC-made seal rung. Friction and sealing properties were investigated by test apparatus specialized for mechanical seal for ventricular assist device. As a result, surface texture which has parallel LIPSS and μm-scaled undulation shows decreasing friction coefficient in blood. Furthermore, decreasing leakage rate was detected simultaneously. On sealing surface, native and thin protein film which consists of uniformly distributed albumin and fibrinogen was made. Therefore, possibility for low friction and low leakage was suggested and control of protein adsorption on sealing surface of mechanical seal was found to be crucial to realize low friction and low leakage.

中文翻译：

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血液中机械密封的表面织构可能同时产生低摩擦和低泄漏

机械密封件安装在EVAHEART®中，这是左心室辅助设备之一，可支持原始人心脏的作用。心室辅助设备的机械密封都要求低摩擦和低泄漏，以实现更长的电池寿命和更少的维护。在这项研究中，通过结合激光诱导的周期性表面结构（LIPSS）和μm级起伏，制造了几种类型的表面纹理，作为SiC制成的密封横档的密封表面上的表面纹理。通过专用于心室辅助装置的机械密封的测试装置研究了摩擦和密封性能。结果，具有平行的LIPSS和μm级起伏的表面纹理显示出血液中的摩擦系数降低。此外，同时检测到泄漏率降低。在密封面上 制备了由均匀分布的白蛋白和纤维蛋白原组成的天然薄蛋白膜。因此，提出了低摩擦和低泄漏的可能性，并且发现控制机械密封的密封表面上的蛋白质吸附对于实现低摩擦和低泄漏至关重要。