Performance of extracorporeally adjustable ventricular assist device inflow cannula.
OBJECTIVE
This study evaluated the feasibility and efficacy of a newly developed adjustable left ventricular assist device inflow cannula in a short-term calf model.


METHODS
In this inflow cannula, the angle between the cannula body and the inflow cannula tip can be altered extracorporeally by manipulating 2 externalized cables connected to the cannula. The cannula tip is adjustable in any plane to a maximum of ±15 degrees.


RESULTS
After initial prototyping in 4 calf cadavers, a Cleveland Heart left ventricular assist device was implanted with the adjustable inflow cannula placed in the left ventricular apex and the outlet to the descending aorta. Under hypovolemic conditions, the angle of the cannula tip could be changed to induce varying degrees of ventricular suction and then eliminate it, as evidenced by recorded pump and native left ventricular flows. Epicardial echocardiography and fluoroscopy in the closed-chest condition documented extracorporeal adjustments of the inflow cannula position.


CONCLUSIONS
This extracorporeally adjustable inflow cannula was effective in preventing or controlling left ventricular suction.
Shiose
Akira
A
Department of Biomedical Engineering, Lerner Research Institute, Cleveland Clinic, Cleveland, Ohio 44195, USA.
Kim
Hyun-Il
HI
Takaseya
Tohru
T
Kobayashi
Mariko
M
Fujiki
Masako
M
Chen
Ji-Feng
JF
Klatte
Ryan
R
Gao
Shengqiang
S
Massiello
Alex L
AL
Saeed
Diyar
D
Fukamachi
Kiyotaka
K
D000818:Animals; D002404:Catheterization / Q000295:instrumentation*; D002417:Cattle; D006353:Heart-Assist Devices; D016277:Ventricular Function, Left