The Thoratec mobile computer: initial in-hospital and outpatient experience

The purpose of this study was to test the operational effectiveness of the Thoratec mobile computer for monitoring and adjusting the portable TLC-II pneumatic driver. The TLC-II portable driver is approved by the Food and Drug Administration for use with either the paracorporeal ventricular assist device (VAD) or the Implantable Thoratec VAD. Currently, data log/file retrieval, changing device parameters, and initial VAD set-up is done with the cart mounted docking station. Thoratec has developed a tablet computer to perform the same tasks. The tablet computer weighs 3.2 lbs and has a 10.4 inch display. The mobile computer was evaluated in the clinic and multiple hospital settings as a mobile substitute for the docking station. For 120 consecutive days, the tablet computer was used exclusively for data file retrieval, changing device parameters, and initial VAD set up of the TLC-II portable drivers. Five patients, four paracorporeal VAD and one Implantable Thoratec VAD, using eight TLC-II portable drivers were evaluated. All patients were discharged home and followed as outpatients. The tablet computer was used by the VAD coordinator, two nurse clinicians, a perfusionist, and a research assistant. A total of 59 individual uses were performed (data retrieval, 46; parameter changes, 5; initial VAD set up, 8). Data were successfully obtained in all cases. Documentation of programmed settings and driver operation was achieved without difficulty.