title: A miniature implantable axial flow ventricular assist device.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Since 1984, in collaboration with NASA engineers, we developed an axial flow pump that is 86 mm long, 22 mm wide, weighs 95 g, produces a flow of 5 to 6 L/min against a 100-mm Hg pressure at about 10,000 rpm, and requires less than 10 W of power.
  
  
  METHODS
  The pump has been implanted in 9 calves with the inlet cannula inserted into the left ventricle and the outlet cannula, consisting of an albumin-coated Dacron graft, attached by end-to-side anastomosis to the descending thoracic aorta.
  
  
  RESULTS
  All animals showed normal behavior until they were killed 1 to 3 months after operation. At autopsy, systemic studies of vital organs demonstrated no evidence of thromboembolism; the rpm of the pump was maintained between 9,000 and 10,000; the wattage ranged between 7 and 9; the output between 4 and 5 L/min; the hemoglobin was maintained between 32 and 35 mg/dL; the plasma-free hemoglobin ranged between 0.5 and 3 mg/dL; the BUN ranged between 8 and 14 mg/dL; the creatinine remained less than 1 mg/dL; and bilirubin studies were within normal limits. Bearing wear-tear tests up to about 5 months have been negative.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  The performance characteristics of the pump implanted in calves up to 90 days are highly gratifying, particularly in terms of pump output of 5 L/min, an index of hemolysis well within normal limits, and absence of thromboembolism.
authors.affiliation: DeBakey Heart Center, Department of Surgery, Baylor College of Medicine, Houston, Texas 77030, USA.
authors.forename: M E
authors.initials: ME
authors.lastname: DeBakey
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D001013:Aorta, Thoracic / Q000601:surgery; D019917:Blood Vessel Prosthesis Implantation; D002302:Cardiac Output / Q000502:physiology; D002417:Cattle; D020099:Coated Materials, Biocompatible; D006333:Heart Failure / Q000473:pathology / Q000601:surgery*; D006352:Heart Ventricles / Q000473:pathology / Q000601:surgery; D006353:Heart-Assist Devices; D006461:Hemolysis / Q000502:physiology; D006801:Humans; D008904:Miniaturization; D011093:Polyethylene Terephthalates
chemical_list: D020099:Coated Materials, Biocompatible; D011093:Polyethylene Terephthalates