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Updated: Jun 19, 2026
Use of Two Intracorporeal Ventricular Assist Devices As a Total Artificial Heart
Published on: May 11, 2018
In Vitro Hemocompatibility of the BiVACOR Total Artificial Heart in Continuous and Pulsatile Flow
Antony P McNamee1, Daniel Timms2, Frank Nestler2
1Biorheology Research Laboratory, Griffith University, Gold Coast, Australia.
Background:
Heart transplantation is curative for advanced heart failure; however, the limited availability of suitable donor organs makes mechanical circulatory support devices a crucial alternative. BiVACOR's total artificial heart (TAH) is a new device that provides full replacement of the organic failing heart to support systemic and pulmonary circulation using a single, magnetically levitated centrifugal rotor. The aim of this study was to assess the in vitro hemocompatibility of the TAH operating in either continuous flow (CF) or pulsatile flow (PF) mode.
Methods:
Cattle blood was circulated in an in vitro blood loop at 5 L/min against 100 mmHg for 6 h using the TAH in CF (n = 6) or PF (n = 6), which were compared with a reference pump (CentriMag; n = 6). Blood analysis included hematology, plasma free-hemoglobin, and von Willebrand factor (vWF) multimers.
Results:
The normalized indexes of hemolysis were 0.004 ± 0.003 g/100 L for CF, 0.004 ± 0.003 g/100 L for PF, and 0.003 ± 0.002 g/100 L for reference. Basic hematology and vWF multimers were affected in a linear manner, but did not vary between flow regimes or devices.
Conclusions:
BiVACOR's TAH operated in a manner requisite of complete heart support, generated comparable in vitro blood compatibility to the clinically approved reference pump, as evidenced by hematological parameters and vWF analyses. The presence of a large pulse pressure did not impact hemocompatibility, which is a positive sign for future applications.
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