A computer model of the pediatric circulatory system for testing pediatric assist devices

Lumped parameter computer models of the pediatric circulatory systems for 1- and 4-year-olds were developed to predict hemodynamic responses to mechanical circulatory support devices. Model parameters, including resistance, compliance and volume, were adjusted to match hemodynamic pressure and flow waveforms, pressure-volume loops, percent systole, and heart rate of pediatric patients (n = 6) with normal ventricles. Left ventricular failure was modeled by adjusting the time-varying compliance curve of the left heart to produce aortic pressures and cardiac outputs consistent with those observed clinically. Models of pediatric continuous flow (CF) and pulsatile flow (PF) ventricular assist devices (VAD) and intraaortic balloon pump (IABP) were developed and integrated into the heart failure pediatric circulatory system models. Computer simulations were conducted to predict acute hemodynamic responses to PF and CF VAD operating at 50%, 75% and 100% support and 2.5 and 5 ml IABP operating at 1:1 and 1:2 support modes. The computer model of the pediatric circulation matched the human pediatric hemodynamic waveform morphology to within 90% and cardiac function parameters with 95% accuracy. The computer model predicted PF VAD and IABP restore aortic pressure pulsatility and variation in end-systolic and end-diastolic volume, but diminish with increasing CF VAD support.     

A novel miniature ventricular assist device for hemodynamic support

The HemoDynamics Systems enabler is a new cardiac assist pump that can expel blood from the left ventricle and provide pulsatile flow in the aorta. We evaluated the efficacy of the 18 Fr enabler. The enabler was inserted from the left ventricular apex into the ascending aorta in eight sheep. Heart failure (mild, moderate, and severe) was induced by microsphere injection into the coronary arteries to reduce cardiac output by 10-30%, 31-50%, and more than 50% from baseline, respectively. The enabler was activated, and its flow was increased to approximately 2.0 L/min. Hemodynamic variables were recorded before and after activation. In moderate heart failure, cardiac output and mean aortic pressure increased from 2.3 +/- 0.6 L/min and 59 +/- 12 mm Hg before assist to 2.8 +/- 0.6 L/min and 70 +/- 8 mm Hg at 30 minutes after activation, respectively (p < 0.01). Left atrial pressure decreased from 17 +/- 3 to 13 +/- 4 mm Hg (p < 0.05). Similar findings were observed in mild and severe heart failure. Despite its small diameter, the enabler significantly improved the hemodynamics of failing hearts and may potentially serve as a means of peripheral left ventricular support. Further study is warranted.     

A pulsatile control algorithm of continuous-flow pump for heart recovery

The intra-aorta pump is a novel continuous flow (CF) left ventricular (LV) device. According to literatures, the pulsatile flow LV device can provide superior LV unloading and circulatory support compared with CF LV assist devices at the same level of ventricular assist device flow. Therefore, a pulsatile control algorithm for the intra-aorta pump is designed. It can regulate the pump to generate pulsatile arterial pressure (AP) and blood flow. A mathematic model of the cardiovascular-pump system is used to verify the feasibility of the control strategy in the presence of LV failure. The surplus hemodynamic energy (SHE), pulsatile ratio (PR), and pulsatile attenuation index (PAI) are used to evaluate the pulsatility of AP and blood flow. The SHE is 8,012.0 ergs/cm(3) by using the pulsatile control strategy (PCS) compared with 5,630.0 ergs/cm(3) by failing heart without support. The PR is 0.302 in the PCS vs. 0.315 in failing heart without support. Meanwhile, the PAI is 85.9% in the PCS compared with 69.7% in failing heart without support. The results demonstrate that the presented control strategy can maintain the pulsatility of AP and blood flow. Moreover, the pulsatile controller provides notably LV unloading. To test the response of the controller to the change of blood demand of patients, another simulation is conducted. In this simulation, the peripheral resistance is reduced to mimic the status of a slight physical active; the Emax is increased to simulate the ventricular contractility recovery. The simulation results demonstrate that the proposed control strategy can automatically regulate the pump in response to the change of the parameters of the circulatory system. To test the dynamic character of the intra-aorta pump, an in vitro experiment is conducted on an in vitro experiment rig. The experimental results demonstrate that the intra-aorta pump can achieve the pulsatile pump speed calculated by the pulsatile controller. The PCS is feasible for the intra-aorta pump. As a key feature, the proposed control strategy provides adequate perfusion in response to the change of blood demands of patients, while restoring the pulsatility of AP and blood flow.     

In vitro evaluation of the PUCA II intra-arterial LVAD

The "pulsatile catheter" (PUCA) pump is a minimally invasive intra-arterial left ventricular assist device intended for acute support of critically ill heart failure patients. To assess the hydrodynamic performance of the PUCA II, driven by an Arrow AutoCat IABP driver, we used a (static) mock circulatory system in which the PUCA II was tested at different loading conditions. The PUCA II was subsequently introduced in a (dynamic) cardiovascular simulator (CVS) to mimic actual in vivo operating conditions, with different heart rates and 2 levels of left ventricular (LV) contractility. Mock circulation data shows that PUCA II pump performance is sensitive to afterload, pump rate and preload. CVS data demonstrate that PUCA II provides effective LV unloading and augments diastolic aortic pressure. The contribution of PUCA II to total flow is inversely related to LV contractility and is higher at high heart rates. We conclude that, with the current IABP driver, the PUCA II is most effective in 1:1 mode in left ventricles with low contractility.     

完全磁悬浮心室辅助装置的体外模拟循环系统实验研究

目的研究我国自主研发的第3代完全磁悬浮心室辅助装置(CH-VAD)对于心衰患者的循环辅助效果。方法建立一套体外模拟循环系统(mock circulatory system,MCS)。该系统能够模拟人体健康休息状态以及心力衰竭状态,并与CH-VAD协同工作,测试CH-VAD在连续流状态下的辅助效果。另外,对CH-VAD的搏动流控制方法进行测试,该模式采用正弦波速度波形,使CH-VAD的运行与MCS心室周期同步。结果 CH-VAD在正常连续流状态下能够使心衰状态的血流动力学参数(动脉压、心排量)恢复到正常范围。初步的搏动流测试结果显示,当前的速度搏动幅值对血流动力学影响较小,搏动流状态下与连续流状态所对应的平均动脉压、动脉脉压、平均心排量与心排量波形等差异不大。结论 CH-VAD能够通过搏动控制器产生一定程度的速度搏动,提供足够的心室辅助,并可以进一步改良优化,提供符合生理条件的搏动血流。所研制的MCS能够提供心室辅助装置以及其他机械循环辅助装置一个有效、可控的体外测试平台,是机械循环辅助装置设计、优化和验证的重要工具。     

Hemodynamic modes of ventricular assist with a rotary blood pump: continuous, pulsatile, and failure

Pulsatile operation of rotary blood pumps (RBPs) has received interest due to potential concern with nonphysiological hemodynamics. This study aimed to gain insight to the effects of various RBP modes on the heart-device interaction. A Deltastream diagonal pump (Medos Medizintechnik GmbH) was inserted in a cardiovascular simulator with apical-to-ascending aorta cannulation. The pump was run in continuous mode with incrementally increasing rotating speed (0-5000 rpm). This was repeated for three heart rates (50-100-150 bpm) and three levels of left ventricular (LV) contractility. Subsequently, the Deltastream was run in pulsatile mode to elucidate the effect of (de)synchronization between heart and pump. LV volume and pressure, arterial pressure, flows, and energetic parameters were used to evaluate the interaction. Pump failure (0 rpm) resulted in aortic pressure drops (17-46 mm Hg) from baseline. In continuous mode, pump flow compensated by diminished aortic flow, thus yielding constant total flow. High continuous rotating speed resulted in acute hypertension (mean aortic pressure up to 178 mm Hg). In pulsatile mode, unmatched heart and pulsatile pump rates yielded unphysiologic pressure and flow patterns and LV unloading was found to be highly dependent on synchronization phase. Optimal unloading was achieved when the minimum rotating speed occurred at end-systole. We conclude that, in continuous mode, a perfusion benefit can only be achieved if the continuous pump flow exceeds the preimplant (baseline) cardiac output. Pulsatile mode of support results in complex pressure and volume variations and requires accurate triggering to achieve optimal unloading.     

The heart-pump interaction: effects of a microaxial blood pump

BACKGROUND: When we use rotary blood pumps as an assist device, an interaction takes place between the pump performance and the native heart function (native heart influences pump performance and vice versa). The interaction between native heart and rotary blood pump can be useful to predict recovery of the failing heart. METHODS: The rotary blood pumps used were microaxial catheter-mounted pumps with an external diameter of 6.4 mm (Impella, Aachen, Germany). The pump-heart interaction was studied in five juvenile sheep with a mean body weight of 68.5 +/- 8.7 kg. The pumps were introduced via the left carotid artery and placed in transvalvular aortic position. Recorded parameters were pump speed (rpm), generated flow (L/min) and differential pressure (mm Hg) obtained at high frequency rate of data recordings (25 sets of data per second). This allowed continuous analysis of the pump performance during cardiac cycle. Under clinical conditions the interaction was studied in a 60-year-old male, in whom the device was applied due to postcardiotomy heart failure after myocardial infarction. RESULTS: Heart-pump interaction was analyzed based on pump flow differential pressure. This relationship, analyzed continuously during cardiac cycle, presents as a loop. The dynamic contribution of the heart to the flow generated by the pump leads to continuous fluctuation in the pressure head and the creation of hysteresis. The improved function of the failing heart under clinical conditions after seven days of mechanical support was expressed by: increased hysteresis of the loop caused by increased gradient of flow generated during cardiac cycle, a more pronounced venticular ejection phase that indicates more dynamic heart contribution to the generated flow, and finally increased gradient of the differential pressure during cardiac cycle, caused predominantly by increased aortic pressure and decreased left ventricle pressure during diastolic phase. CONCLUSIONS: The heart-pump interaction based on the pump flow-differential pressure relationship can be useful in predicting the possibility to wean the patient from the device.     

Effective ventricular unloading by left ventricular assist device varies with stage of heart failure: cardiac simulator study

Although the use of left ventricular assist devices (LVADs) as a bridge-to-recovery (BTR) has shown promise, clinical success has been limited due to the lack of understanding the timing of implantation, acute/chronic device setting, and explantation. This study investigated the effective ventricular unloading at different heart conditions by using a mock circulatory system (MCS) to provide a tool for pump parameter adjustments. We tested the hypothesis that effective unloading by LVAD at a given speed varies with the stage of heart failure. By using a MCS, systematic depression of cardiac performance was obtained. Five different stages of heart failure from control were achieved by adjusting the pneumatic systolic/diastolic pressure, filling pressure, and systemic resistance. The Heart Mate II? (Thoratec Corp., Pleasanton, CA) was used for volumetric and pressure unloading at different heart conditions over a given LVAD speed. The effective unloading at a given LVAD speed was greater in more depressed heart condition. The rate of unloading over LVAD speed was also greater in more depressed heart condition. In conclusion, to get continuous and optimal cardiac recovery, timely increase in LVAD speed over a period of support is needed while avoiding the akinesis of aortic valve.     

Measurement of hemodynamic changes with the axial flow blood pump installed in descending aorta

We have developed various axial flow blood pumps to realize the concept of the Valvo pump, and we have studied hemodynamic changes under cardiac assistance using an axial flow blood pump in series with the natural heart. In this study, we measured hemodynamic changes of not only systemic circulation but also cerebral circulation and coronary circulation under cardiac support using our latest axial flow blood pump placed in the descending aorta in an acute animal experiment. The axial flow blood pump was installed at the thoracic descending aorta through a left thoracotomy of a goat (43.8 kg, female). When the pump was on, the aortic pressure and aortic flow downstream of the pump increased with preservation of pulsatilities. The pressure drop upstream of the pump caused reduction of afterload pressure, and it may lead to reduction of left ventricular wall stress. However, cerebral blood flow and coronary blood flow were decreased when the pump was on. The axial flow blood pump enables more effective blood perfusion into systemic circulation, but it has the potential risk of blood perfusion disturbance into cerebral circulation and coronary circulation. The results indicate that the position before the coronary ostia might be suitable for implantation of the axial flow blood pump in series with the natural heart to avoid blood perfusion disturbances.     

Computational analysis of the effect of the control model of intraaorta pump on ventricular unloading and vessel response

The intraaorta pump is a novel left ventricular assist device (LVAD) whose hemodynamic effects on the circulatory system is unknown. This article aims to evaluate the different effects on the circulatory system supported by the intraaorta pump. In this article, the pump is controlled by three control strategies, including the continuous flow method, the constant rotational speed, and the constant pressure head. A cardiovascular pump system, which includes cardiovascular circulation, intraaorta pump, and regulating mechanisms of systemic circulation, has been proposed. Left ventricle pressure (LVP), end-diastolic volume (EDV), and left ventricular external work (LVEW) were used to evaluate the degree of ventricular unloading. The pulsatile index (PI), which is defined as a ratio of pulse pressure and mean arterial pressure (MAP), was used to evaluate the effect of the vessel response by three control strategies. The comparison results showed that LVP and EDV were lower than those measured before the intraaorta pump was implanted. For LVEW, the constant pressure head strategy provided a superior ventricular unloading compared with other strategies. Support of the pump led to the lower pulsatility by the three models. However, the PI of the constant pressure head was the most at 0.37. In conclusion, these results indicate that the intraaorta pump controlled by constant pressure head strategy provides superior ventricular unloading and pulsatility of the vessel.     

Hemodynamic and pressure-volume responses to continuous and pulsatile ventricular assist in an adult mock circulation

This study investigated the hemodynamic and left ventricular (LV) pressure-volume loop responses to continuous versus pulsatile assist techniques at 50% and 100% bypass flow rates during simulated ventricular pathophysiologic states (normal, failing, recovery) with Starling response behavior in an adult mock circulation. The rationale for this approach was the desire to conduct a preliminary investigation in a well controlled environment that cannot be as easily produced in an animal model or clinical setting. Continuous and pulsatile flow ventricular assist devices (VADs) were connected to ventricular apical and aortic root return cannulae. The mock circulation was instrumented with a pressure-volume conductance catheter for simultaneous measurement of aortic root pressure and LV pressure and volume; a left atrial pressure catheter; a distal aortic pressure catheter; and aortic root, aortic distal, VAD output, and coronary flow probes. Filling pressures (mean left atrial and LV end diastolic) were reduced with each assist technique; continuous assist reduced filling pressures by 50% more than pulsatile. This reduction, however, was at the expense of a higher mean distal aortic pressure and lower diastolic to systolic coronary artery flow ratio. At full bypass flow (100%) for both assist devices, there was a pronounced effect on hemodynamic parameters, whereas the lesser bypass flow (50%) had only a slight influence. Hemodynamic responses to continuous and pulsatile assist during simulated heart failure differed from normal and recovery states. These findings suggest the potential for differences in endocardial perfusion between assist techniques that may warrant further investigation in an in vivo model, the need for controlling the amount of bypass flow, and the importance in considering the choice of in vivo model.     

Biventricular support with the Jarvik 2000 axial flow pump: a feasibility study

Patients with congestive heart failure who are supported with a left ventricular assist device (LVAD) may experience right ventricular dysfunction or failure that requires support with a right ventricular assist device (RVAD). To determine the feasibility of using a clinically available axial flow ventricular assist device as an RVAD, we implanted Jarvik 2000 pumps in the left ventricle and right atrium of two Corriente crossbred calves (approximately 100 kg each) by way of a left thoracotomy and then analyzed the hemodynamic effects in the mechanically fibrillated heart at various LVAD and RVAD speeds. Right atrial implantation of the device required no modification of either the device or the surgical technique used for left ventricular implantation. Satisfactory biventricular support was achieved during fibrillation as evidenced by an increase in mean aortic pressure from 34 mm Hg with the pumps off to 78 mm Hg with the pumps generating a flow rate of 4.8 L/min. These results indicate that the Jarvik 2000 pump, which can provide chronic circulatory support and can be powered by external batteries, is a feasible option for right ventricular support after LVAD implantation and is capable of completely supporting the circulation in patients with global heart failure.     

Increased contribution of alpha 1- vs. beta-adrenoceptor-mediated inotropic response in rats with congestive heart failure

AIM: In failing myocardium the mechanical response to beta-adrenoceptor stimulation is attenuated. Alternative signalling systems might provide inotropic support when the beta-adrenoceptor system is dysfunctioning. Accordingly, the inotropic responses to alpha 1- and beta-adrenoceptor stimulation by the endogenous adrenoceptor agonist noradrenaline in non-failing and failing rat hearts were compared. METHODS: Chronic heart failure was induced in male Wistar rats by coronary artery ligation. Corresponding sham groups were prepared. After 6 weeks, papillary muscles from non-failing and failing hearts were isolated. Receptor binding studies were performed in the corresponding myocardium. The alpha 1-adrenoceptor-mediated inotropic response was not changed while the beta-adrenoceptor-mediated response was substantially reduced in failing compared with non-failing myocardium. RESULTS: No change in potency for the agonists was observed at the alpha 1-adrenoceptors, while an increased potency for the agonists at the beta-adrenoceptors was found during heart failure. The lusitropic response to beta-adrenoceptor stimulation was intact during heart failure. No over all change in affinity or number of either adrenoceptor type was observed in receptor binding studies. The alpha 1-adrenoceptor-mediated inotropic response became dominating compared with the beta-adrenoceptor-mediated one in failing rat myocardium in contrast to the dominating role of the latter in non-failing myocardium. The attenuation of the beta-adrenoceptor-mediated inotropic response in rat failing myocardium was not because of a reduced number of receptors. CONCLUSION: Increasing contractility through stimulation of alpha 1-adrenoceptors in situ by the endogenous agonist may be an alternative way of inotropic support during heart failure and even more so during beta-adrenoceptor blockade.     

各种辅助泵对心室功能恢复的影响

应用自制隔膜泵、非捕动流叶轮泵和捕动流叶轮泵,以及临床应用的美国Ｓａｒｎｓ转子泵分别在迷你猪和小公牛身上做左心室或双心室辅助试验。结果显示搏动流泵在自然心脏衰竭时能维持动物主动脉压的搏动特性,从而降低周身而增加血流循环流量,而叶轮泵及转子泵因没有瓣膜返流能提高动物主动脉舒张压,增加自 脏冠状动脉灌注,因此搏动流叶轮泵对于衰竭心脏功能的恢复,最为有利。     

Hydrodynamic properties of a new percutaneous intra-aortic axial flow pump

Cardiac intervention, myocardial infarction, or postoperative heart failure will sometimes create a need for circulatory support. For this purpose, a new, minimally invasive intra-aortic cardiac support system with a foldable propeller has been developed. In animals, the pump has been shown to have a positive hemodynamic influence, and the present study evaluates the hydraulic properties of the pump in a bench test. The axial flow pump is a catheter system with a distal motor driven foldable propeller (0-15,000 revolutions per minute). To protect the aortic wall, filaments forming a cage surround the propeller. In the present study, tests were done with two different pumps, one with and one without the cage. Two different models were used, one for testing pressure generation and one for obtaining flow-pressure characteristics. Propellers and tubes with different diameters were studied, and pressure and flow characteristics were measured. The mathematical relationships between pressure and rotational speed, pressure, and diameter of propeller and tube were determined. There was a positive relationship between the revolutions per minute and the generated pressure, a positive relationship between the diameter of the propeller and pressure, and a negative relationship between the diameter of the tube and the generated pressure. Within the physiologic range of cardiac output, there was a small drop in pressure with increasing flow in the tubes with a small diameter. With an increasing diameter of the tube, a smaller pressure drop was seen with increasing flow. The present cardiac support system has hydraulic properties, which may be of clinical relevance for patients with left ventricular heart failure.     

In vitro evaluation of left ventricular assistance by cannulation of both femoral arteries

The possibility of achieving effective mechanical ventricular assistance without the need for thoracotomy provides great clinical advantages. Two in vitro systems were used to assess left ventricular unloading by means of a small-diameter cannula inserted retrograde into the left ventricle by cannulation of the femoral artery. This cannula is connected to the inlet of a centrifugal blood pump (CP) that delivers the blood into the contralateral femoral artery. Steady-flow test circulation was used to pump fluid in a closed loop from a reservoir through the test cannula back into the reservoir. Pressure drops over cannulae with inner diameters of 4, 5, 6, 7, and 8 mm at flows of 2, 2.5, 3 L/min, against a pressure of 60, 80, 100, and 120 mmHg were calculated. A stationary pressure drop of 120 mmHg was measured at a flow of 3 L/min through a 100 cm cannula with an inner diameter of 6 mm. The second system was a pulsatile mock circulation composed of an atrial and an arterial reservoir linked by a pneumatic prosthetic ventricle. This system was coupled with a 100 cm cannula, 6.1 mm inner diameter, which was passed across the outflow valve of the pulsatile prosthetic ventricle and connected to a CP. Fluid was withdrawn from the ventricle and pumped back into the arterial reservoir. Pulsatile pressure drop over the cannula was measured at different CP flows for increasing systolic ventricular pressure; heart unloading was quantified as a function of CP flow under baseline and failing conditions of the prosthetic left ventricle model. At a constant CP flow the pressure drop over the cannula increased with the pulsatility inside the ventricle. The work of the prosthetic ventricle was reduced by more than 50% when the CP pump was set to 3 L/min; at the same flow setting, when the situation of a failing left ventricle was simulated, the CP was able to take over all the work of the prosthetic ventricle, establishing a stationary flow and a 25% higher mean aortic pressure. This approach to left ventricular assistance may have significant clinical relevance.     

Left ventricular and myocardial perfusion responses to volume unloading and afterload reduction in a computer simulation

Ventricular assist devices (VADs) have been used successfully as a bridge to transplant in heart failure patients by unloading ventricular volume and restoring the circulation. In a few cases, patients have been successfully weaned from these devices after myocardial recovery. To promote myocardial recovery and alleviate the demand for donor organs, we are developing an artificial vasculature device (AVD) that is designed to allow the heart to fill to its normal volume but eject against a lower afterload. Using this approach, the heart ejects its stroke volume (SV) into an AVD anastomosed to the aortic arch, which has been programmed to produce any desired afterload condition defined by an input impedance profile. During diastole, the AVD returns this SV to the aorta, providing counterpulsation. Dynamic computer models of each of the assist devices (AVD, continuous, and pulsatile flow pumps) were developed and coupled to a model of the cardiovascular system. Computer simulations of these assist techniques were conducted to predict physiologic responses. Hemodynamic parameters, ventricular pressure-volume loops, and vascular impedance characteristics were calculated with AVD, continuous VAD, and asynchronous pulsatile VAD support for a range of clinical cardiac conditions (normal, failing, and recovering left ventricle). These simulation results indicate that the AVD may provide better coronary perfusion, as well as lower vascular resistance and elastance seen by the native heart during ejection compared with continuous and pulsatile VAD. Our working hypothesis is that by controlling afterload using the AVD approach, ventricular cannulation can be eliminated, myocardial perfusion improved, myocardial compliance and resistance restored, and effective weaning protocols developed that promote myocardial recovery.     

Current circulatory support with step-by evaluation of biventricular and pulmonary function

The purpose of this study was to examine the clinical results of current circulatory support with step-by evaluation of biventricular and pulmonary function. Six patients who had undergone cardiac surgery and two non-cardiotomy patients underwent current circulatory support with the step-by functional evaluation. Of six postcardiotomy patients, four patients with severe ischemic heart disease underwent coronary artery bypass giafting (CABG), and the remaining two patients with advanced aortic stenosis underwent aortic valve replacement (AVR). All six patients received intra-aortic balloon pump (IABP) support before or during operation. Two non-cardiotomy patients suffered from dilated cardiomyopathy, and both showed acute deterioration with cardiogenic shock or low cardiac output syndrome. Three of six postcardiotomy patients with circulatory support were weaned and discharged from the hospital. Two noncardiotomy patients in critical condition were successfully supported for more than 6 months by the Novacor left ventricular assist system (LVAS). We conclude that the ongoing current strategy of circulatory support with step-by functional evaluation might be applied for various types of severe heart failure with or without associated cardiac operations.     

Development and evaluation of endurance test system for ventricular assist devices

We developed a novel endurance test system that can arbitrarily set various circulatory conditions and has durability and stability for long-term continuous evaluation of ventricular assist devices (VADs), and we evaluated its fundamental performance and prolonged durability and stability. The circulation circuit of the present endurance test system consisted of a pulsatile pump with a small closed chamber (SCC), a closed chamber, a reservoir and an electromagnetic proportional valve. Two duckbill valves were mounted in the inlet and outlet of the pulsatile pump. The features of the circulation circuit are as follows: (1) the components of the circulation circuit consist of optimized industrial devices, giving durability; (2) the pulsatile pump can change the heart rate and stroke length (SL), as well as its compliance using the SCC. Therefore, the endurance test system can quantitatively reproduce various circulatory conditions. The range of reproducible circulatory conditions in the endurance test circuit was examined in terms of fundamental performance. Additionally, continuous operation for 6 months was performed in order to evaluate the durability and stability. The circulation circuit was able to set up a wide range of pressure and total flow conditions using the SCC and adjusting the pulsatile pump SL. The long-term continuous operation test demonstrated that stable, continuous operation for 6 months was possible without leakage or industrial device failure. The newly developed endurance test system demonstrated a wide range of reproducible circulatory conditions, durability and stability, and is a promising approach for evaluating the basic characteristics of VADs.     

Hemodynamics of a functional centrifugal-flow total artificial heart with functional atrial contraction in goats

Implantation of a total artificial heart (TAH) is one of the therapeutic options for the treatment of patients with end-stage biventricular heart failure. There is no report on the hemodynamics of the functional centrifugal-flow TAH with functional atrial contraction (fCFTAH). We evaluated the effects of pulsatile flow by atrial contraction in acute animal models. The goats received fCFTAH that we created from two centrifugal-flow ventricular assist devices. Some hemodynamic parameters maintained acceptable levels: heart rate 115.5 ± 26.3 bpm, aortic pressure 83.5 ± 10.1 mmHg, left atrial pressure 18.0 ± 5.9 mmHg, pulmonary pressure 28.5 ± 9.7 mmHg, right atrial pressure 13.6 ± 5.2 mmHg, pump flow 4.0 ± 1.1 L/min (left) 3.9 ± 1.1 L/min (right), and cardiac index 2.13 ± 0.14 L/min/m². fCFTAH with atrial contraction was able to maintain the TAH circulation by forming a pulsatile flow in acute animal experiments. Taking the left and right flow rate balance using the low internal pressure loss of the VAD pumps may be easier than by other pumps having considerable internal pressure loss. We showed that the remnant atrial contraction effected the flow rate change of the centrifugal pump, and the atrial contraction waves reflected the heart rate. These results indicate that remnant atria had the possibility to preserve autonomic function in fCFTAH. We may control fCFTAH by reflecting the autonomic function, which is estimated with the flow rate change of the centrifugal pump.