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Updated: May 20, 2026
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Use of Two Intracorporeal Ventricular Assist Devices As a Total Artificial Heart
Published on: May 11, 2018
Progress on the design and development of the continuous-flow total artificial heart
Mariko Kobayashi1, David J Horvath, Nicole Mielke
1Department of Biomedical Engineering, Lerner Research Institute, Cleveland Clinic, Cleveland, OH 44195, USA.
Artificial Organs
|July 4, 2012
Summary
Cleveland Clinic
Area of Science:
- Biomedical Engineering
- Cardiovascular Devices
- Fluid Dynamics
Background:
- The Cleveland Clinic developed a continuous-flow total artificial heart (TAH) utilizing a hydrodynamic bearing for its rotating assembly.
- The device features passive self-regulation of the right hydraulic output to balance left output.
- Advancements are needed in control systems, pressure/flow regulation, biocompatibility, and computational modeling for TAH devices.
Purpose of the Study:
- To report progress on the continuous-flow total artificial heart in four key development areas.
- To evaluate the automatic speed control system and self-regulation capabilities.
- To assess biocompatibility through hemolysis testing and validate computational models.
Main Methods:
- Developed a sensorless speed control algorithm based on motor power, speed, systemic flow, and systemic vascular resistance (SVR).
- Assessed self-regulation by measuring atrial pressure differences across various SVR/pulmonary vascular resistance ratios.
- Conducted hemolysis testing using calf blood and validated coupled electromagnetics (EMAG) and computational fluid dynamics (CFD) analysis.
Main Results:
- The sensorless speed control algorithm demonstrated strong correlations between motor function and systemic parameters.
- The TAH system accurately calculated systemic flow and SVR, enabling automatic speed adjustment to meet target flow.
- The device maintained atrial pressure differences within ±10 mmHg, indicating effective self-regulation.
- Hemolysis test results were within acceptable limits (normalized index of hemolysis <0.01 mg/dL).
- The coupled EMAG/CFD model was validated for future device design.
Conclusions:
- The continuous-flow TAH demonstrates effective sensorless speed control and robust self-regulation.
- The device shows promising biocompatibility and validated computational tools for further development.
- These advancements represent significant progress toward a functional artificial heart.
