title: Proposal of a new electromechanical total artificial heart: the TAH Serpentina.
abstract: A new type of energy converter for an electro-mechanical total artificial heart (TAH) based on the principle of a unidirectional moving motor is described. Named the TAH Serpentina, the concept consists of 2 major parts, a pendulum shaped movable element fixed on one side using a joint bearing and a special shaped drum cam. Pusher plates are mounted flexibly to the crossbar of the pendulum. A motor drives the special shaped drum cam linked to the pendulum through a ball bearing. The circular motion of the unidirectional moving brushless DC motor is transferred into the linear motion of the pendulum to drive the pusher plates. Using a crossbar with a variable length, the stroke of the pendulum and therefore the displaced blood volume is alterable. To achieve a variable length, an electric driven screw thread or a hydraulic system is possible. Comparable to the natural heart, cardiac output would be determined by frequency and stroke volume.
authors: Klinik für Allgemein-, Visceral- und Transplantationschirurgie, Charité-Campus Virchow-Klinikum Medizinische Fakultät der Humboldt-Universität zu Berlin, Germany.
authors: I M
authors: IM
authors: Sauer
authors: J
authors: J
authors: Frank
authors: E S
authors: ES
authors: Bücherl
mesh_terms: D004582:Electronics, Medical; D006354:Heart, Artificial; D011474:Prosthesis Design