Development of the E4T electrohydraulic total artificial heart.
A completely implantable total artificial heart (TAH) is being developed based on many years of research performed at the Cleveland Clinic Foundation and Nimbus, Inc. The pumping unit consists of biolized surface-treated pusher plate blood pumps powered by an interventricular electrohydraulic energy converter. A variable volume device references the back side of the pusher plates to lung pressure. Electrical power is supplied by a transcutaneous energy transmission system, integrated with a wearable external battery pack. An implanted internal battery provides back-up power. System design and optimization efforts have resulted in a compact pumping unit package and an overall TAH that meets anatomic, physiologic, and engineering requirements. Overall pumping unit basic dimensions are 98 mm diameter and 80 mm thick. The blood pumps have a truncated conical shape and are separated by a thin interventricular septum 21 mm thick. Theoretical stroke volume is 64 ml, and maximum stroke length is 13.2 mm. Normal pump operation is at 90% of full stroke, which yields a net output of 53 ml, with valve regurgitation taken into account.
Himley
S C
SC
Cleveland Clinic-Nimbus Cardiac Prosthesis Development Group, Ohio.
Butler
K C
KC
Massiello
A
A
Chen
J
J
Irie
H
H
Harasaki
H
H
Kiraly
R J
RJ
Golding
L
L
Takatani
S
S
Nosé
Y
Y
D002302:Cardiac Output / Q000502:physiology; D004867:Equipment Design; D006354:Heart, Artificial; D006353:Heart-Assist Devices; D006439:Hemodynamics / Q000502:physiology*; D006801:Humans