title: In vivo performance and biocompatibility of the MagScrew ventricular assist device.
abstract: Currently available ventricular assist devices (VADs) have limitations in long-term durability and blood compatibility. We evaluated a prototype of a pulsatile MagScrew VAD for in vivo hemodynamic performance and biocompatibility. The device is composed of an actuator, blood pump housing, diaphragm, pusher plate, and bioprosthetic valves. Its protein-coated ("biolized") blood-contacting surface inhibits clot formation. Forces between moving parts of the actuator are transmitted magnetically, eliminating a primary source of friction and wear. The pump fills passively and is highly preload sensitive. The device was implanted into three calves for 90, 10, and 57 days, respectively. No anticoagulants were given postoperatively. The device functioned without technical problems during the entire course of each experiment, with mean device flow ranging between 5.4 and 9.0 L/min. Autopsy of the first two calves revealed no sign of embolization and clean blood-contacting surfaces of the devices. The third experiment was complicated by a prosthetic valve endocarditis with infectious embolization, and a few small depositions were found in the pump. In conclusion, the MagScrew VAD has demonstrated a high level of performance and biocompatibility in three calves studied for 10-90 days. Vigorous development is in progress to bring this device to preclinical readiness and thus provide surgeons with the VAD of choice for permanent implantation.
authors.affiliation: Department of Biomedical Engineering, Lerner Research Institute, The Cleveland Clinic Foundation, 9500 Euclid Avenue, Cleveland, OH 44195, USA.
authors.forename: Soren
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Schenk
authors.forename: Stephan
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Weber
authors.forename: Viviane
authors.initials: V
authors.lastname: Luangphakdy
authors.forename: Christine R
authors.initials: CR
authors.lastname: Flick
authors.forename: Ji-Feng
authors.initials: JF
authors.lastname: Chen
authors.forename: Masahiro
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Inoue
authors.forename: Michael W
authors.initials: MW
authors.lastname: Kopcak
authors.forename: Yoshio
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Ootaki
authors.forename: Kazuyoshi
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Doi
authors.forename: Raymond
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Dessoffy
authors.forename: Gordon B
authors.initials: GB
authors.lastname: Hirschman
authors.forename: Nicholas G
authors.initials: NG
authors.lastname: Vitale
authors.forename: Peter A
authors.initials: PA
authors.lastname: Chapman
authors.forename: William A
authors.initials: WA
authors.lastname: Smith
authors.forename: Kiyotaka
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Fukamachi
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D002417:Cattle; D020099:Coated Materials, Biocompatible; D004617:Embolism / Q000517:prevention & control*; D005780:Gelatin; D006353:Heart-Assist Devices; D008280:Magnetics / Q000295:instrumentation; D008297:Male
chemical_list: D020099:Coated Materials, Biocompatible; D005780:Gelatin