Antithrombogenicity evaluation of a centrifugal blood pump

Area of Science:

• Biomedical Engineering
• Cardiovascular Devices
• Thrombosis Research

Background:

• The Gyro C1E3 pump is designed for cardiopulmonary bypass and short-term assist device applications.
• Understanding thrombus formation within these pumps is critical for patient safety and device efficacy.

Purpose of the Study:

• To investigate the correlation between thrombus formation factors and the Gyro C1E3 pump.
• To develop a predictive model for estimating thrombus accumulation within the device.

Main Methods:

• Seven Gyro C1E3 pumps were implanted in calves as paracorporeal left ventricular assist devices (LVAD) and one for percutaneous cardiopulmonary support (PCPS).
• Anticoagulation was managed with heparin to maintain specific activated clotting time (ACT) ranges.
• Post-experiment, pumps were examined for blood-derived deposits, and the dry weight of adhered thrombi was measured.

Main Results:

• A multiple correlation analysis was performed to identify factors influencing thrombus formation.
• An equation was derived to estimate thrombus dry weight based on pump flow rate, motor speed, pumping duration, and ACT: Estimated dry weight of thrombi = 1.140 x pump flow rate -0.001 motor speed + 1.652 pumping time -0.041 x ACT (R² = 0.944).

Conclusions:

• The study demonstrates a significant correlation between pump operational parameters and thrombus formation.
• The developed equation provides a method to quantify adhered thrombus formation within the Gyro C1E3 pump, aiding in risk assessment and device optimization.