Electrohydraulic ventricular assist device development

An electrohydraulic ventricular assist device has been developed. An axial flow pump driven by a brushless DC motor provides actuation. Energy is supplied by internal Ni/Cd batteries and by external Ag/Zn batteries, both rechargeable. Electromagnetic induction is used to pass energy through the skin with a transcutaneous energy transfer (TET) system. Physiologic control, battery management, motor commutation, and communication functions are performed by a surface mount internal controller. An infrared data link within the TET coils provides bidirectional communication between the external and internal controllers. A computer model was developed to predict system performance. The dimensions are 180 mm x 116 mm x 40 mm. An in vitro system pumped 5.7 L/min at 10 mmHg inflow and 100 mmHg outflow pressure. The internal battery can provide the projected energy requirements for 40 min after 540 charge/discharge cycles, and the external battery is capable of 4 hr of operation after 150 cycles. The TET system can deliver 60 W of power and exceeds 80% efficiency between 15 and 30 W. The device configuration is based on human cadaver and intraoperative fit trials. The device is being modified for calf implantation by redirecting the blood ports, increasing the output, and incorporating the internal controller in the unified device base.