title: In vivo evaluation of zirconia ceramic in the DexAide right ventricular assist device journal bearing.
abstract: Zirconia is a ceramic with material properties ideal for journal bearing applications. The purpose of this study was to evaluate the use of zirconium oxide (zirconia) as a blood journal bearing material in the DexAide right ventricular assist device. Zirconia ceramic was used instead of titanium to manufacture the DexAide stator housing without changing the stator geometry or the remaining pump hardware components. Pump hydraulic performance, journal bearing reliability, biocompatibility, and motor efficiency data of the zirconia stator were evaluated in six chronic bovine experiments for 14-91 days and compared with data from chronic experiments using the titanium stator. Pump performance data including average in vivo pump flows and speeds using a zirconia stator showed no statistically significant difference to the average values for 16 prior titanium stator in vivo studies, with the exception of a 19% reduction in power consumption. Indices of hemolysis were comparable for both stator types. Results of coagulation assays and platelet aggregation tests for the zirconia stator implants showed no device-induced increase in platelet activation. Postexplant evaluation of the zirconia journal bearing surfaces showed no biologic deposition in any of the implants. In conclusion, zirconia ceramic can be used as a hemocompatible material to improve motor efficiency while maintaining hydraulic performance in a blood journal bearing application.
authors.affiliation: Department of Biomedical Engineering, Lerner Research Institute, The Cleveland Clinic, Cleveland, OH 44195, USA.
authors.forename: Diyar
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Saeed
authors.forename: Shanaz
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Shalli
authors.forename: Hideyuki
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Fumoto
authors.forename: Yoshio
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Ootaki
authors.forename: Tetsuya
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Horai
authors.forename: Tomohiro
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Anzai
authors.forename: Roula
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Zahr
authors.forename: David J
authors.initials: DJ
authors.lastname: Horvath
authors.forename: Alex L
authors.initials: AL
authors.lastname: Massiello
authors.forename: Ji-Feng
authors.initials: JF
authors.lastname: Chen
authors.forename: Raymond
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Dessoffy
authors.forename: Jacquelyn
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Catanese
authors.forename: Stephen
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Benefit
authors.forename: Leonard A R
authors.initials: LA
authors.lastname: Golding
authors.forename: Kiyotaka
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Fukamachi
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D001777:Blood Coagulation; D002417:Cattle; D002516:Ceramics / Q000737:chemistry / Q000378:metabolism*; D004867:Equipment Design; D006352:Heart Ventricles / Q000601:surgery; D006353:Heart-Assist Devices; D006439:Hemodynamics; D010974:Platelet Aggregation; D015040:Zirconium / Q000737:chemistry / Q000378:metabolism*
chemical_list: D015040:Zirconium; C028541:zirconium oxide