title: In vitro evaluation of a compliant inflow cannula reservoir to reduce suction events with extracorporeal rotary ventricular assist device support.
abstract: Limited preload sensitivity of rotary left ventricular assist devices (LVADs) renders patients susceptible to harmful atrial or ventricular suction events. Active control systems may be used to rectify this problem; however, they usually depend on unreliable sensors or potentially inaccurate inferred data from, for example, motor current. This study aimed to characterize the performance of a collapsible inflow cannula reservoir as a passive control system to eliminate suction events in extracorporeal, rotary LVAD support. The reservoir was evaluated in a mock circulation loop against a rigid cannula under conditions of reduced preload and increased LVAD speed in both atrial and ventricular cannulation scenarios. Both cases demonstrated the ease with which chamber suction events can occur with a rigid cannula and confirm that the addition of the reservoir maintained positive chamber volumes with reduced preload and high LVAD speeds. Reservoir performance was dependent on height with respect to the cannulated chamber, with lower placement required in atrial cannulation due to reduced filling pressures. This study concluded that a collapsible inflow cannula is capable of minimizing suction events in extracorporeal, rotary LVAD support.
authors.affiliation: School of Engineering Systems and Medical Device Domain, Institute of Health and Biomedical Innovation, Queensland University of Technology, Brisbane, Australia. shaun.gregory@qut.edu.au
authors.forename: Shaun David
authors.initials: SD
authors.lastname: Gregory
authors.forename: Daniel
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Timms
authors.forename: Nicholas Richard
authors.initials: NR
authors.lastname: Gaddum
authors.forename: Charles
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: McDonald
authors.forename: Mark John
authors.initials: MJ
authors.lastname: Pearcy
authors.forename: John F
authors.initials: JF
authors.lastname: Fraser
mesh_terms: D002404:Catheterization / Q000295:instrumentation*; D057785:Catheters; D004867:Equipment Design; D006353:Heart-Assist Devices; D006801:Humans; D013396:Suction / Q000295:instrumentation*; D016277:Ventricular Function, Left