Control and driving of pneumatic total artificial hearts TNS-BRNO-II and -III in long-term experiments

Hemodynamic analysis was carried out during long-term experiments with the pneumatic total artificial hearts TNS-BRNO-II and TNS-BRNO-III to determine standard methods of starting artificial hearts and criteria for their long-term operation in vivo. In long-term experiments, regulatory mechanisms automatically regulating the systole length and diastolic aspiration pressure have also been verified. Comparison of hemodynamic variables obtained from invasive measurements with pneumatic pressure curves permitted the control and monitoring of the experiment in its entirety by noninvasive methods only. The control of the artificial heart using the Chirasist TN 3 and Chirasist TN 4 was adapted to specific properties of the pumps, above all to the functions of the atypical inlet valves. The terminal stages of the experiments have shown that a 100-ml pump can ensure survival of experimental calves up to 210 kg body weight.