title: Cardiac supporting device using artificial rubber muscle: preliminary study to active dynamic cardiomyoplasty.
abstract: Dynamic cardiomyoplasty is a surgical treatment that utilizes the patient's skeletal muscle to support circulation. To overcome the limitations of autologous skeletal muscles in dynamic cardiomyoplasty, we studied the use of a wrapped-type cardiac supporting device using pneumatic muscles. Four straight rubber muscles (Fluidic Muscle, FESTO, Esslingen, Germany) were used and connected to pressure sensors, solenoid valves, a controller and an air compressor. The driving force was compressed air. A proportional-integral-derivative system was employed to control the device movement. An overflow-type mock circulation system was used to analyze the power and the controllability of this new device. The device worked powerfully with pumped flow against afterload of 88 mmHg, and the beating rate and contraction/dilatation time were properly controlled using simple software. Maximum pressure inside the ventricle and maximum output were 187 mmHg and 546.5 ml/min, respectively, in the setting of 50 beats per minute, a contraction/dilatation ratio of 1:2, a preload of 18 mmHg, and an afterload of 88 mmHg. By changing proportional gain, contraction speed could be modulated. This study showed the efficacy and feasibility of a pneumatic muscle for use in a cardiac supporting device.
authors.affiliation: Department of Thoracic and Cardiovascular Surgery, Hirosaki University School of Medicine, 5 Zaifu-cho, Hirosaki, Aomori, 036-8562, Japan. yomusai12@yahoo.co.jp.
authors.forename: Yoshiaki
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Saito
authors.affiliation: Department of Thoracic and Cardiovascular Surgery, Hirosaki University School of Medicine, 5 Zaifu-cho, Hirosaki, Aomori, 036-8562, Japan.
authors.forename: Yasuyuki
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Suzuki
authors.affiliation: Department of Clinical Engineering, Hirosaki University School of Medicine and Hospital, Aomori, Japan.
authors.forename: Takeshi
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Goto
authors.affiliation: Department of Thoracic and Cardiovascular Surgery, Hirosaki University School of Medicine, 5 Zaifu-cho, Hirosaki, Aomori, 036-8562, Japan.
authors.forename: Kazuyuki
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Daitoku
authors.affiliation: Department of Thoracic and Cardiovascular Surgery, Hirosaki University School of Medicine, 5 Zaifu-cho, Hirosaki, Aomori, 036-8562, Japan.
authors.forename: Masahito
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Minakawa
authors.affiliation: Department of Thoracic and Cardiovascular Surgery, Hirosaki University School of Medicine, 5 Zaifu-cho, Hirosaki, Aomori, 036-8562, Japan.
authors.forename: Ikuo
authors.initials: I
authors.lastname: Fukuda
mesh_terms: D018421:Cardiomyoplasty / Q000295:instrumentation*; D058868:Compressed Air; D006801:Humans; D008955:Models, Cardiovascular; D012408:Rubber
chemical_list: D012408:Rubber
keywords: Artificial muscle; Blood vessel prosthesis; Cardiac supporting