Comparative evaluation of artificial ventricles in the United States

A cooperative, comparative evaluation of nine artificial ventricles was performed on two standardized mock circulations. The ventricles included five air-driven diaphragm types, three sack types and a mechanically driven type. The slopes of the ventricular output curves varied from 0.04 to 0.88 at 0 to 5 Torr filling pressure and the maximum ventricular output varied from 3.8 to 11.9 liters/min at 100 Torr outflow pressure. All ventricles had decreased output with increased outflow pressures (70 to 130 Torr). Hemolysis index ratio (HI test/HI std) for HI std equals 0.024 plus or minus .005 (plus or minus 1 SD) g/100 liters (N equals 12), was +21.5 and +6.9 for a Dacron cloth and fibril heart, respectively, +2.0 to +2.86 for three sack ventricles, and +3.2 for a smooth diaphragm ventricle. The mechanical ventricle with a sinusoidal driving waveform and smooth surface had the lowest hemolysis, HI equals 0.008 plus or minus 0.003 (plus or minus 1 SD) (N equals 6). Sack ventricles caused marked hemolysis if the walls touched during systole. Ventricular dimensions varied: weight 116 to 700 g, length 9.2 to 18.7 cm, and volume 235 to 430 ml. Performance data was returned to each individual laboratory which resulted in modification of ventricular design in at least three instances. Comparative, standardized testing of artificial ventricles may shorten development time and provide performance criteria for application in man.