Trial Manufacture of Eccentric Roller Type Total Artificial Heart

Abstract

Working toward a completely implantable total artificial heart, we have designed an eccentric roller type total artificial heart. The actuator of this artificial heart is a drum type eccentric roller that squeezes the blood chambers. The blood chambers are made of silicone rubber and are torus in shape. The shape of the artificial heart is an almost circular cylinder, and its length and diameter are 10 cm and 8 cm, respectively. The 2 main characteristics of this artificial heart are that it discharges blood in a pulsatile mode and that it requires no reversing of the motor. Because we have not completed the artificial heart yet, we have tested the eccentric roller mechanism on the prototype with an overflow type mock circulation with a 100 mm Hg afterload. The prototype worked at the roller speeds of 50, 100, and 150 rpm with flow rates of 1.7, 3.7, and 5.4 L/min, respectively. Next the prototype was connected to a Donovan type mock circulatory system and worked at roller speeds of 88-214 rpm with flow rates of 3.0-8.4 L/min against mean afterloads of 82-120 mm Hg.

Eccentric Roller Type Total Artificial Heart Designed for Implantation

“…Therefore, we tried to design an eccentric roller type artificial heart that was smaller and simpler ( 7). Actually, the current model was the smallest one made in our institute.…”

“…In the process of developing a completely implantable total artificial heart (TAH) system, we have developed several kinds of artificial hearts in Hiroshima in the past years ( 1–6). As the latest trial, an eccentric roller type TAH was designed to reduce the size of the TAH through simplifying the actuator mechanism ( 7). First we made a prototype TAH and carried out a performance test of it ( 7).…”

“…As the latest trial, an eccentric roller type TAH was designed to reduce the size of the TAH through simplifying the actuator mechanism ( 7). First we made a prototype TAH and carried out a performance test of it ( 7). In this study, we evaluated the eccentric roller type TAH which is under development and improvement and examined it by means of a mock test which consisted of a simulation experiment of the actual circulatory system, an endurance test, and an acute animal experiment.…”

Eccentric Roller Type Total Artificial Heart Creating Interatrial Shunt

“…The pump system basically has the same configuration as that previously reported in which right and left silicone blood chambers output blood alternatively by compressing them with alternate rotations of eccentric rollers (13,14)(Fig. 1).…”

“…We continue research and improvements for several reasons: acceptable cardiac output could not be obtained; energy efficiency was low; and there was the problem of antithrombogenecity. Among recent prototypes of electric motor‐driven roller‐type TAH studied, the most recent is a device in which right and left silicone blood chambers output blood alternately by compressing them with alternate rotations of eccentric rollers (13,14). The advantages of this artificial heart are that no valves are mounted, it is one of the most compact devices in the world (8 × 10 cm), and a pulsatile‐like flow waveform can be obtained although it is a roller pump.…”