# Computational Study of Tesla Valve Design for Vesico-Amniotic Shunt to Manage Lower Urinary Tract Obstruction and Pleural Effusion

## TL;DR

This paper proposes a new fetal shunt design with a Tesla valve to manage urinary and pleural issues during pregnancy, using computational methods to find the optimal configuration.

## Contribution

The novel contribution is the design and computational evaluation of Tesla valves for fetal shunts to improve urine flow and reduce pressure buildup.

## Key findings

- A 50-degree Tesla valve with specific dimensions showed the best performance in urine flow and pressure management.
- Computational methods confirmed the optimal design's superior diode characteristics and flow efficiency.
- The design has potential to enhance fetal bladder muscle development and prevent fatal complications.

## Abstract

Fetal lower urinary tract obstruction (LUTO) and pleural effusion are conditions that can disrupt fetal growth and lead to fetal death. LUTO inhibits the formation of amniotic fluid, which is vital for lung development, while pleural effusions can compress the fetal heart, potentially causing fatal cardiac failure. To manage these conditions, a fetal shunt (vesico-amniotic shunt) is placed inside the fetal bladder. This paper presents a study on a new design incorporating a Tesla valve in the shunt. Six groups of Tesla valves with loop angles of 50 degrees and 60 degrees, and different end dimensions, are examined and evaluated in terms of the urine flow rate from the fetal bladder into the amniotic cavity, the pressure buildup between the two sides, and their potential in developing fetal bladder muscles. A mathematical method is used to compare diode characteristics, analyze flow rates, identify the Tesla valve angle, determine the Reynolds number, and assess diodicity. The Computational Fluid Dynamics (CFD) method is also employed to verify calculation results and simulate fluid behavior inside the Tesla valve. Combining the calculations and simulations, a 50-degree Tesla valve with specific dimensions showed the best performance and will be the optimal design for the fetal shunt.