In vitro and in vivo testing of an implantable motor-driven left ventricular assist device.
A totally implantable motor-driven left ventricular assist device (LVAD) has been developed and tested. The performance of this LVAD was tested in a mock circulatory system. This pump provided 8 L/min of output against a mean afterload of 120 mm Hg with a filling pressure of 20 mm Hg when the pump was operated in the fill/empty mode. The right and left pumps were tested in a mock loop. The right pump afterload was kept in the range from 23-32 mm Hg. With increase in the left pump afterload, the pump power output varied from 1.64 to 2.37 W. The instantaneous motor power input varied from 22.6 to 30.6 W with the total system efficiency ranging from 6.7 to 9.4%. To date, 4 in vivo studies have been conducted for up to 12 h. Two animals survived 12 and 10 h, respectively. Termination was due to bleeding in 1 animal, vent tube obstruction in 1, and respiratory failure in 2. All animals died of technical failure. Another experiment is to be undertaken, and a newly designed cannula is now being manufactured.
Murakami
T
T
Department of Thoracic and Cardiovascular Surgery, Kawasaki Medical School, Kurashiki, Japan.
Kikugawa
D
D
Fukuhiro
Y
Y
Kanazawa
S
S
Fujiwara
T
T
Katsumura
T
T
Kukunaga
S
S
Matsuura
Y
Y
D000009:Abdominal Muscles; D000818:Animals; D001672:Biocompatible Materials; D002302:Cardiac Output / Q000502:physiology; D002315:Cardiopulmonary Bypass; D002404:Catheterization; D006353:Heart-Assist Devices / Q000592:standards*; D066298:In Vitro Techniques; D011673:Pulsatile Flow / Q000502:physiology; D012756:Sheep
D001672:Biocompatible Materials