The CentriMag: a new optimized centrifugal blood pump with levitating impeller.
OBJECTIVE
Blood pumps are routinely used for circulatory and pulmonary support. However, blood trauma and pump failure remain severe drawbacks of currently available pump models. This study evaluated the first clinical application of a new, totally bearingless centrifugal blood pump (CentriMag).


METHODS
A centrifugal pump consisting of an electromagnetic suspended impeller was used as a blood pump during beating-heart coronary artery bypass grafting in 11 patients (mean weight, 77.4 kg). Heparin in a bolus of 150 IU/kg body weight was administered, and activated clotting time was maintained at approximately 180 to 250 seconds during extracorporeal circulation. Pump-induced blood trauma was evaluated by measurement of plasma free hemoglobin (PFH), lactate dehydrogenase (LDH), hematocrit, total bilirubin, and platelet levels.


RESULTS
Mean pump flow was 3.3 +/- 0.62 L/min, and mean pressure gradient through the oxygenator was 69 +/- 4 mm Hg. No pump dysfunction occurred during a mean application time of 105 +/- 26 minutes. Inspection of the pump housings showed no internal thrombus formation despite low-dose heparinization. Only slight hemolysis was observed with a mean PFH level of 1.96 micromol/L; LDH, 460 U/L; hematocrit, 33%; total bilirubin, 25 micromol/L; and platelets, 191 x 10(3)/microL.


CONCLUSIONS
The bearingless CentriMag blood pump is a safe and reliable new device that produces only minimal hemolysis. It seems to be suited for long-term evaluation as a blood pump for extracorporeal membrane oxygenation or as ventricular assist device.
Mueller
Juerg Peter
JP
Clinic for Cardiovascular Surgery, University Hospital Zurich, Switzerland.
Kuenzli
Andreas
A
Reuthebuch
Oliver
O
Dasse
Kurt
K
Kent
Stella
S
Zuend
Gregor
G
Turina
Marko Ivan
MI
Lachat
Mario Louis
ML
D000368:Aged; D002498:Centrifugation / Q000295:instrumentation*; D001026:Coronary Artery Bypass / Q000295:instrumentation*; D004867:Equipment Design; D019544:Equipment Failure Analysis; D005112:Extracorporeal Circulation / Q000295:instrumentation*; D005260:Female; D006353:Heart-Assist Devices; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male