Progress in Cleveland Clinic-Nimbus total artificial heart development.
A totally implantable, Cleveland Clinic-Nimbus total artificial heart (TAH) uses electrohydraulic energy conversion and an automatic left master-alternate mode control scheme, with a filling sensitivity of 1.0 l/min/mmHg and a maximum output of 9.5 l/min. The TAHs were tested in 12 calves for 1-120 days with normal major organ and blood cell function. Post-operative suppression of platelet aggregation recovered by the second post-operative week. The gelatin-coated pump surface generally was clean without any anticoagulants and free from infection. Embolism, which occurred in two cases, was caused by complications attributable to fungal infection in a Dacron graft and by thrombus formed around a jugular vein catheter. A system with a hybridized microcircuit controller in the interventricular space has been tested successfully in the three most recent cases, with a peak device surface temperature elevation of 6.5 degrees C. Heat effects were confined to the tissues immediately adjacent to the hottest spots. The carbon fiber-reinforced epoxy housing and 60 ml butyl rubber compliance chamber showed good tissue compatibility with a thin, fibrous tissue capsule. The transcutaneous energy transmission system and the internal battery functioned well as designed in the most recent animal implant.
Harasaki
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H
Department of Biomedical Engineering, Cleveland Clinic Foundation, OH 44195, USA.
Fukamachi
K
K
Massiello
A
A
Chen
J F
JF
Himley
S C
SC
Fukumura
F
F
Muramoto
K
K
Niu
S
S
Wika
K
K
Davies
C R
CR
D000818:Animals; D001698:Biomedical Engineering; D002302:Cardiac Output; D002417:Cattle; D004617:Embolism / Q000209:etiology; D005069:Evaluation Studies as Topic; D006354:Heart, Artificial / Q000009:adverse effects; D006439:Hemodynamics; D006358:Hot Temperature / Q000009:adverse effects; D009181:Mycoses / Q000209:etiology