The E4T electric powered total artificial heart (TAH)

The E4T is a totally implantable total artificial heart (TAH) resulting from many years of research work at the Cleveland Clinic Foundation (CCF) and Nimbus, Inc. It consists of four implanted subsystems: the pumping unit, the variable volume device, the transcutaneous transformer, and the internal battery. The pumping unit consists of two CCF biolized pusher plate pumps, and a Nimbus electrohydraulic energy converter. The control logic is based on a left master, alternating beating scheme. The timing difference between end right eject and end left fill determines the actuator speed adjustment. The pumps free fill, so left-right flow differences are easily accommodated. A prototype system has been built and begun testing to validate and refine the design details.