title: The PediaFlow pediatric ventricular assist device.
abstract: 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.
authors.affiliation: Section of Pediatric Cardiothoracic Surgery of the Heart Lung and Esophageal Institute, Children's Hospital of Pittsburgh, Pittsburgh, PA, USA.
authors.forename: Peter D
authors.initials: PD
authors.lastname: Wearden
authors.forename: Victor O
authors.initials: VO
authors.lastname: Morell
authors.forename: Bradley B
authors.initials: BB
authors.lastname: Keller
authors.forename: Steven A
authors.initials: SA
authors.lastname: Webber
authors.forename: Harvey S
authors.initials: HS
authors.lastname: Borovetz
authors.forename: Stephen F
authors.initials: SF
authors.lastname: Badylak
authors.forename: J Robert
authors.initials: JR
authors.lastname: Boston
authors.forename: Robert L
authors.initials: RL
authors.lastname: Kormos
authors.forename: Marina V
authors.initials: MV
authors.lastname: Kameneva
authors.forename: Marwan
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Simaan
authors.forename: Trevor A
authors.initials: TA
authors.lastname: Snyder
authors.forename: Hiro
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Tsukui
authors.forename: William R
authors.initials: WR
authors.lastname: Wagner
authors.forename: James F
authors.initials: JF
authors.lastname: Antaki
authors.forename: Chenguang
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Diao
authors.forename: Stijn
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Vandenberghe
authors.forename: Jeff
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Gardiner
authors.forename: Chung M
authors.initials: CM
authors.lastname: Li
authors.forename: Daniel
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Noh
authors.forename: Dave
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Paden
authors.forename: Bradley
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Paden
authors.forename: Jingchun
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Wu
authors.forename: Gill B
authors.initials: GB
authors.lastname: Bearnson
authors.forename: Gordon
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Jacobs
authors.forename: John
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Kirk
authors.forename: Pratap
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Khanwilkar
authors.forename: James W
authors.initials: JW
authors.lastname: Long
authors.forename: Scott
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Miles
authors.forename: John A
authors.initials: JA
authors.lastname: Hawkins
authors.forename: Peter C
authors.initials: PC
authors.lastname: Kouretas
authors.forename: R E
authors.initials: RE
authors.lastname: Shaddy
mesh_terms: 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
chemical_list: D001672:Biocompatible Materials