Hydraulic driving unit and control system for artificial hearts.

Area of Science:

• Biomedical Engineering
• Cardiovascular Devices
• Fluid Dynamics

Background:

• Pneumatic artificial ventricle drives pose risks of air embolism upon membrane rupture.
• Existing artificial heart technologies require improved safety and control mechanisms.

Purpose of the Study:

• To develop and evaluate a novel hydraulic driving unit for artificial ventricles.
• To enhance operational safety and achieve precise volume control in artificial heart systems.

Main Methods:

• Constructed a hydraulic power transmission system using an electromagnet and a rolling membrane pump.
• Implemented direct control of membrane motion and blood volume via armature stroke measurement.
• Conducted in vivo experiments to assess hemodynamic efficiency and a 12-month durability test for long-term stability.

Main Results:

• The hydraulic drive effectively prevents air embolism, a critical safety improvement over pneumatic systems.
• Direct measurement of armature stroke enabled precise control of pumped blood volume.
• The system demonstrated automatic self-regulation (Starling's law) and self-synchronization for ventricular assist device applications.
• In vivo tests confirmed hemodynamic efficiency, and durability tests validated long-term operational stability.

Conclusions:

• The developed hydraulic driving unit offers a safer and more controllable alternative for artificial ventricles.
• This technology shows significant potential for improving left and right ventricular assist device performance.
• The system's inherent safety features and reliable performance are suitable for clinical applications.