Use of an intraaortic balloon pump as a pneumatic ventricular assist device controller.
Using a circulatory analogue, we investigated sequentially the performance of a dedicated ventricular assist device driver and an intraaortic balloon pump when driving a pneumatic ventricular assist device. Each drive device was compared under identical pumping conditions at rates of 40 to 120 cycles/min against two resistances. Our preliminary study showed that a modified intraaortic balloon pump could drive a pneumatic ventricular assist device as effectively as its dedicated driver. The necessary modifications to and possible further development of the intraaortic balloon in this role are discussed.
Macrae
D J
DJ
Department of Anaesthesia, Brompton Hospital, London, United Kingdom.
Glenville
B
B
McCarthy
T
T
Cooper
L
L
Guerreiro
D
D
Ross
D N
DN
D001243:Assisted Circulation; D006353:Heart-Assist Devices; D007423:Intra-Aortic Balloon Pumping / Q000295:instrumentation*