A preclinical cadaver fitting study of implantable biventricular assist device-- AnyHeart

A multifunctional, Korean-made artificial heart (AnyHeart) was developed, and prior to its clinical application, a cadaver-fitting study was performed. The study proposed to determine the optimal cannulation approach, implantation technique and route of the cannula to minimize the organ compression of AnyHeart. The anatomical feasibility and a variety of surgical techniques were evaluated using ten preserved, human cadavers. Implanting AnyHeart with ease is possible using various approaches, including a median sternotomy, and a right or left lateral thoracotomy. The lateral thoracotomy approach is shown to be safe and reproducible, especially in patients who have already undergone an operation that used a median sternotomy. The results of this study will guide improvements in the designs of cannulae and AnyHeart for future clinical applications.