Complete left ventricular bypass with a paracorporeal pump: design and evaluation

Area of Science:

• Biomedical Engineering
• Cardiovascular Research
• Medical Device Design

Background:

• Mechanical circulatory assist devices are crucial for managing end-stage heart failure.
• The development of artificial hearts and assist systems requires rigorous evaluation.
• Previous designs have faced challenges in long-term efficacy and biocompatibility.

Purpose of the Study:

• To design and evaluate a novel left ventricular to aortic assist system.
• To assess the long-term performance and safety of the assist system in an animal model.
• To explore synchronized pumping for improved ventricular decompression and flow rates.

Main Methods:

• A multidisciplinary team designed a sac-type pump with synchronization and pneumatic power units.
• The assist system was evaluated in ten calves with paracorporeal placement.
• Synchronized assist pumping was implemented in the final four calves.

Main Results:

• The assist pump demonstrated continuous function for over eight months in one calf.
• Synchronized pumping allowed for prolonged ventricular decompression and high flow rates (up to 10 L/min).
• Three of the four calves with synchronized pumping showed no evidence of thromboemboli.

Conclusions:

• The designed left ventricular to aortic assist system shows potential for long-term circulatory assistance.
• Synchronized pumping is a viable strategy for enhancing device performance and reducing embolic complications.
• Further animal studies are necessary before human clinical trials can be considered.