The PediaFlow pediatric ventricular assist device.
The very limited options available to treat ventricular failure in patients with congenital and acquired heart diseases have motivated the development of a pediatric ventricular assist device (VAD). Our effort involves a consortium consisting of the University of Pittsburgh, Carnegie Mellon University, Children's Hospital of Pittsburgh, World Heart Corporation, and LaunchPoint Technologies, LLC. The overall aim of our program is to develop a highly reliable, biocompatible VAD for chronic support (6 months) of the unique and high-risk population of children between 3 kg and 15 kg (patients from birth to 2 years of age). The innovative pediatric VAD we are developing (PediaFlow) is based on a miniature mixed-flow turbodynamic pump featuring magnetic levitation, with the design goal being to assure minimal blood trauma and risk of thrombosis. This article discusses the limitations of current pediatric cardiac assist treatment options and the work to date by our consortium toward the development of a pediatric VAD.
Wearden
Peter D
PD
Section of Pediatric Cardiothoracic Surgery of the Heart Lung and Esophageal Institute, Children's Hospital of Pittsburgh, Pittsburgh, PA, USA.
Morell
Victor O
VO
Keller
Bradley B
BB
Webber
Steven A
SA
Borovetz
Harvey S
HS
Badylak
Stephen F
SF
Boston
J Robert
JR
Kormos
Robert L
RL
Kameneva
Marina V
MV
Simaan
Marwan
M
Snyder
Trevor A
TA
Tsukui
Hiro
H
Wagner
William R
WR
Antaki
James F
JF
Diao
Chenguang
C
Vandenberghe
Stijn
S
Gardiner
Jeff
J
Li
Chung M
CM
Noh
Daniel
D
Paden
Dave
D
Paden
Bradley
B
Wu
Jingchun
J
Bearnson
Gill B
GB
Jacobs
Gordon
G
Kirk
John
J
Khanwilkar
Pratap
P
Long
James W
JW
Miles
Scott
S
Hawkins
John A
JA
Kouretas
Peter C
PC
Shaddy
R E
RE
D001672:Biocompatible Materials / Q000627:therapeutic use; D002675:Child, Preschool; D003198:Computer Simulation; D004867:Equipment Design; D006330:Heart Defects, Congenital / Q000150:complications; D006331:Heart Diseases / Q000150:complications; D006333:Heart Failure / Q000209:etiology / Q000601:surgery*; D006353:Heart-Assist Devices; D006801:Humans; D007223:Infant; D008955:Models, Cardiovascular
D001672:Biocompatible Materials