Morphological inspection of 80 consecutive Gyro pumps after cardiopulmonary bypass

 We have been using the Gyro centrifugal pump C1E3 for cardiopulmonary bypass in anticipation of high efficiency, low hemolysis, and antithrombogenicity of this pump. However, the clinical evaluation of this pump remains to be clarified, because it has been a short time since the pump appeared in clinical situations. The aim of the present study is to inspect and analyze the Gyro pumps morphologically after clinical use. We examined 80 consecutive pumps after cardiopulmonary bypass for 186 ± 67 min with a mean flow rate of 2.52 ± 0.22 l/min/m² at a mean rotational speed of 2485 ± 81.1 rpm. Although no abnormal findings were present in 79 pumps, one pump was found to contain effusion at the connection between the impeller body and the shaft. The extudate was supposed to be blood, based upon the results of X-ray spectrometer analysis. The cause was determined to be the upward deviation of the shaft off the impeller body. Scanning electron microscopy showed scratches on a part of the bottom housing and a smooth surface of both the male and female pivots of the pump. Surface profile measurement revealed that the deformity of the female pivots was 0.14 mm (top) and 0.05 mm (bottom). These observations suggest that the floating force and vibration by the rotating impeller acted on the joint zone between the alumina ceramic shaft and the polycarbonate impeller body, resulting in dissection of the adhesive agent from the polycarbonate. Although this abnormality may be rare, the structural design still may need to be improved. Received: November 9, 2001 / Accepted: February 4, 2002