Design and test of a vascular access device

Transarterial left ventricular assist devices (LVADs), such as the Hemopump, IABP, and PUCA-pump, are meant to be introduced into the body via the femoral or axillary artery without major surgery. For certain applications, introduction is performed directly into the aorta via an open thorax procedure. A prototype of a vascular access device has been realized that allows direct access into the aorta as an alternative for the common surgical graft anastomosis suturing technique. The device consists of a metal tube acting as a circular knife to cut a hole in the aortic wall, a screw to store the removed part of the aortic wall, and a plastic tube that is introduced through the hole and tightly connected to the aortic wall. The device could be placed without aortic clamping. The device has been tested on a slaughterhouse porcine aorta. A low-pressurized aorta appeared to be the worst case; thus, two animal experiments in the low-pressurized pulmonary artery were performed. No leakage occurred for pressures between 40 and 300 mm Hg.