Semibiological left heart assist: in vitro evaluation

A semibiological left heart assist device has been designed and built at the Cardiothoracic Institute and National Heart Hospital, London, England. This device is a Dacron/polyurethane conduit between the left ventricle and aorta in which part of the conduit assumes the function of a pumping chamber. This segment is enclosed by two biological valves and has side arm. A polyurethane balloon is inserted through this side arm, and is pumped in a synchronously counter-pulsating manner. Upon completion, the balloon can be removed without thoracotomy and with the conduit left in situ. Under simulated physiologic pressure and rate conditions, the pumping device gives reasonably good performance.