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Long‐term Animal Survival with an Implantable Axial Flow Pump as a Left Ventricular Assist Device
Author(s) -
Konishi Hiroaki,
Antaki James F.,
Litwak Philip,
Kameneva Marina,
Yamazaki Kenji,
Macha Mahender,
Kerrigan John P.,
Mandarino William A.,
Butler Kenneth C.,
Borovetz Harvey S.,
Kormos Robert L.
Publication year - 1996
Publication title -
artificial organs
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 0.684
H-Index - 76
eISSN - 1525-1594
pISSN - 0160-564X
DOI - 10.1111/j.1525-1594.1996.tb00713.x
Subject(s) - purge , ventricular assist device , medicine , descending aorta , peristaltic pump , cardiology , surgery , biomedical engineering , aorta , mechanical engineering , heart failure , engineering , waste management
We are developing an axial flow blood pump with Nimbus Inc. (AxiPump). For in vivo evaluation the AxiPump has been used as a left ventricular assist device with a left ventricular and descending aorta cannulation and implantation in a small pocket on the left lateral abdominal wall just posterior to the costal margin. Electrical and flow probe leads exit the body transcutaneously. A purge line that delivers the purge fluid for lubrication of the seal between the rotor and stator bodies in the purge fluid bearing system is tunneled with the other leads. Following acute animal studies, 3 animals have been supported for over 1 month with this AxiPump system. All laboratory results were within normal limits except during a recovery period from surgical damage. Hemolysis was not a serious problem. In the first case, the purge system failed at 28 days, and in the second and third cases, the nonpurge bearing system worked well for 57 and 52 days, respectively. Bearings are still under development in this kind of pump. However, this success encourages us to improve the AxiPump as a long‐term assist device.