The destruction of red blood cells, or mechanical hemolysis, is an inevitable complication of interventional devices, so scientists want to gain a better understanding of the phenomenon. Researchers develop a red blood cell destruction model based on simulations of dissipative particle dynamics within a high shear flow. The team discovered that acceleration during shearing is a major factor in red blood cell destruction, beyond exposure time and shear stress. They recommend adding a flow buffer structure to the structural design of ventricular assist devices to reduce part of the hemolysis caused by shear acceleration.