Related Experiment Videos
Vacuum generation in pneumatic artificial heart drives with a specially designed ejector system.
H Schima1, L Huber, F Spitaler
1Second Department of Surgery, University of Vienna, Austria.
Artificial Organs
|June 1, 1990
Summary
This study introduces a novel Venturi effect ejector system to enhance vacuum generation for artificial hearts (AHs). The system improves diastolic filling, offering a small, fail-safe, and cost-effective solution for artificial heart drivers.
Area of Science:
- Biomedical Engineering
- Cardiovascular Devices
- Fluid Dynamics
Background:
- Pneumatically driven membrane artificial hearts (AHs) require improved filling characteristics during diastole.
- Current methods for generating vacuum in AH drivers can be complex or inefficient.
Purpose of the Study:
- To design and evaluate a novel ejector system for artificial heart drivers.
- To utilize the Venturi effect for efficient vacuum generation during diastole.
Main Methods:
- Development of an ejector system based on the Venturi effect.
- Testing the system's vacuum generation capabilities at various flow rates.
- Assessment of supply gas pressure requirements and flow rates.
Main Results:
- The ejector system achieved vacuums exceeding -40 mmHg at flow rates up to 50 l/min.
- Required primary gas pressure was below 150 kPa (1140 mmHg).
- Normal working conditions required less than 5 l/min of supply flow.
Conclusions:
- The Venturi effect-based ejector system effectively improves vacuum generation for artificial hearts.
- The device is compact, affordable, quiet, and fail-safe.
- Successful experimental and clinical evaluations demonstrate its practical utility.