Related Experiment Videos
Improved mechanism for capturing muscle power for circulatory support
Dennis R Trumble1, David B Melvin, Mark T Byrne
1Cardiothoracic Surgery Research, Allegheny-Singer Research Institute, and Department of Surgery, Allegheny General Hospital, West Penn Allegheny Health System, Pittsburgh, PA 15212-4772, USA. trumble@wpahs.org
Artificial Organs
|September 7, 2005
Summary
Researchers developed an implantable muscle energy converter (MEC) to harness skeletal muscle power for cardiac support. Bench and canine trials show the MEC effectively transfers muscle work to aid a failing heart, proving feasibility for muscle-powered cardiac assist devices.
Area of Science:
- Biomedical Engineering
- Cardiovascular Research
- Skeletal Muscle Physiology
Background:
- Trained skeletal muscle possesses significant power generation capacity for circulatory support.
- Current methods lack the ability to utilize this endogenous energy source for failing hearts.
Purpose of the Study:
- To construct and optimize an implantable muscle energy converter (MEC).
- To evaluate the MEC's durability, anatomic fit, and mechanical efficiency.
- To assess the feasibility of muscle-powered cardiac assist devices.
Main Methods:
- Development and refinement of an implantable muscle energy converter (MEC).
- Bench testing to quantify transmission losses and mechanical efficiency.
- Canine implant trials to evaluate biocompatibility and in-vivo power transmission.
Main Results:
- MEC transmission losses averaged less than 10% of total work input.
- Approximately 85% of muscle power was successfully transferred to the pump's working fluid.
- Canine trials demonstrated excellent biocompatibility and effective transmission of latissimus dorsi muscle contractile work (up to 290 mJ/stroke).
Conclusions:
- Muscle-powered cardiac assist devices are feasible.
- The developed MEC technology shows promise for aiding failing hearts.
- Further development of this technology is warranted.