Development of the Nimbus/Pittsburgh axial flow left ventricular assist system

Nimbus, Inc. and the University of Pittsburgh's School of Medicine have been collaborators developing rotary blood pump technology since 1992. Currently, a major focus is on an implantable left ventricular assist system (LVAS) that utilizes an electric powered axial flow blood pump. In addition to the blood pump, a major development item is the electronic controller and the control algorithm for modulating the pump speed in response to varying physiologic demands. Methods being used in developing the axial flow LVAS include the use of computational fluid dynamic modeling of the interior flow field of the pump, flow visualization of the flow field using laser based imaging, and computer simulation of blood pump-physiological interactions as well as an extensive in vivo test program. Results to date include successful in vivo tests of blood pumps with nonlubricated bearings and demonstrations of auto speed control using electrical current as the observable parameter.