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Hemodynamics of a Pulsatile Left Ventricular Assist Device Driven by a Counterpulsation Pump in a Mock Circulation
Author(s) -
Khir Ashraf William,
Swalen Marcel J.,
Segers Patrick,
Verdonck Pascal,
Pepper John R.
Publication year - 2006
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.1525-1594.2006.00218.x
Subject(s) - pulsatile flow , hemodynamics , ventricle , cardiology , descending aorta , biomedical engineering , compression (physics) , medicine , aorta , ventricular assist device , aortic pressure , materials science , heart failure , composite material
The BCM (CardialCare, Minneapolis, MN, U.S.A.) is a pusher‐plate pulsatile left ventricular assist device (LVAD) that is operated by counterpulsation pumps. The purpose of this work was to assess the fluid dynamics associated with operating the BCM in a mock circulation, and also to examine the similarities between hemodynamic parameters produced by this device in vitro and those produced by the left ventricle (LV) in vivo. The BCM was connected to a true size silicon rubber aorta and operated by an intra‐aortic balloon pump. We examined the performance of the device at two system pressures (6.5 and 8 kPa); at three heart rates (60, 80, and 100 bpm); and at three pumping frequencies (1:1, 1:2, 1:3). Pressure and flow were measured in the upper descending aorta, and wave intensity analysis was used to calculate the peak intensity and energy of the compression and expansion waves. Pressure and flow waveforms produced by the BCM LVAD in vitro under different loading conditions were similar to those observed in vivo under similar loadings. Pusher‐plate‐type LVADs can produce compression and expansion waves similar to those generated by healthy LV in vivo.