title: Portable pneumatic biventricular driver for the Thoratec ventricular assist device.
abstract: As patients with left ventricular (LVAD) and biventricular assist devices are supported for increasingly long durations while awaiting heart transplantation or cardiac recovery, there is a need to facilitate greater patient mobility and ambulation. To meet these needs, the authors have developed the Thoratec TLC-II Portable VAD Driver, which is a small brief-case sized (33 x 34 x 13 cm) pneumatic unit for Thoratec's paracorporeal and implantable VADs. The TLC-II consists of an electric motor driven air compressor for supplying both positive and negative air pressure, solenoid valves for switching between LVAD/RVAD filling and ejection, and microcontroller based electronics and firmware. Four power sources are provided: external power, two rechargeable lithium-ion battery packs, and an emergency battery that drives an independent electronic back-up system. The 8 kg TLC-II can be carried by hand, with a shoulder strap, or pushed on a wheeled mobility cart. Trend information stored in the TLC-II can be accessed by an external system computer with a color touchscreen mounted on a docking station, which also houses the battery charger. Control configurations (univentricular/biventricular operation, beat rates, etc.) are entered on the touchscreen and programmed into the TLC-II. In vitro testing demonstrates the ability to pump VAD outputs up to 7 L/min. By providing improved patient mobility, this small driver will enhance rehabilitation and improve the quality of life of VAD patients.
authors.affiliation: Thoratec Laboratories Corporation, Berkeley, California, USA.
authors.forename: D J
authors.initials: DJ
authors.lastname: Farrar
authors.forename: K E
authors.initials: KE
authors.lastname: Buck
authors.forename: J H
authors.initials: JH
authors.lastname: Coulter
authors.forename: E J
authors.initials: EJ
authors.lastname: Kupa
mesh_terms: D000553:Ambulatory Care; D001698:Biomedical Engineering; D011211:Electric Power Supplies; D004582:Electronics, Medical / Q000295:instrumentation; D004867:Equipment Design; D005069:Evaluation Studies as Topic; D006353:Heart-Assist Devices; D006801:Humans; D066298:In Vitro Techniques; D008124:Locomotion; D008838:Microcomputers