Development of an implantable motor-driven assist pump system

Area of Science:

• Biomedical Engineering
• Medical Devices
• Cardiovascular Technology

Background:

• Artificial pumps are crucial for cardiac support.
• Existing systems face challenges with power delivery and biocompatibility.
• Transcutaneous energy transmission (TET) offers a potential solution for implantable devices.

Purpose of the Study:

• To develop and evaluate a motor-driven artificial pump with an integrated TET system.
• To assess the performance and efficiency of the TET system for powering an implantable blood pump.
• To demonstrate the feasibility of the system for continuous cardiac assistance.

Main Methods:

• A high-speed DC brushless motor was coupled to a ball screw and magnetic mechanism for pump drive.
• A transcutaneous transformer with concave/convex ferrite cores was designed for efficient energy transfer.
• Motor voltage and pump performance were regulated and measured under simulated physiological conditions.

Main Results:

• The artificial pump achieved a flow rate of 5.6 l/min at 100 mmHg mean outlet pressure and 100 bpm.
• The TET system efficiently transmitted 24 W with 78% efficiency and minimal internal core temperature rise (0.2°C).
• Synchronous pumping performance was satisfactory, with continuous operation supported by a backup battery.

Conclusions:

• The developed motor-driven artificial pump with TET is a promising system for implantable assist applications.
• The efficient and safe energy transmission via TET supports the potential for long-term cardiac assistance.
• Further development could lead to advanced implantable cardiac assist devices.