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Basic study to develop the undulation pump for practical use: antithrombogenicity, hemolysis, and flow patterns
1Institute of Medical Electronics, Faculty of Medicine, University of Tokyo, Japan.
Artificial Organs
|July 1, 1995
Summary
A new undulation pump for artificial hearts caused severe hemolysis and thrombus formation in animal tests. Improving these issues is crucial for developing implantable total artificial hearts using this blood pump technology.
Area of Science:
- Biomedical Engineering
- Cardiovascular Devices
- Medical Device Development
Background:
- The undulation pump, a continuous flow displacement blood pump, is under development for implantable total artificial hearts.
- Previous iterations were known as precessional displacement pumps.
Purpose of the Study:
- To evaluate a newly developed undulation pump for chronic use in an artificial heart application.
- To assess the pump's performance regarding hemolysis and thrombus formation in animal models and flow studies.
Main Methods:
- Animal experiments involving left ventricular bypass in goats.
- Flow visualization studies to analyze internal pump fluid dynamics.
- Assessment of hemolysis and thrombus formation post-experimentation.
Main Results:
- Severe hemolysis was observed during the animal experiments.
- Thrombus formation was detected inside the pump after 12 hours of operation.
- Flow visualization revealed complex turbulent flow patterns within the pump.
Conclusions:
- The current undulation pump design leads to significant hemolysis and thrombus formation.
- Addressing hemolysis and thrombus formation is critical for the successful clinical application of undulation pumps as total artificial hearts.