Implantable electromechanical displacement blood pumps : systematic design and validation methods

• Implantierbare elektro-mechanische Verdrängerblutpumpen : systematische Konstruktions- und Bewertungsmethoden

Kwant, Paul Barteld; Rau, Günter (Thesis advisor)

Aachen : Publikationsserver der RWTH Aachen University (2008)
Dissertation / PhD Thesis

Aachen, Techn. Hochsch., Diss., 2008

Abstract

Blood pumps are developed for different clinical indications, such as cardiopulmonary bypass, extracorporeal membrane oxygenation, ventricular assist (bridge to recovery, bridge to transplant, destination therapy) or heart replacement. The REMATCH trial has demonstrated that mechanical circulatory support is an effective alternative to optimal medication therapy in the treatment of heart diseases. This dissertation describes the systematic design and validation methods of two implantable electromechanical displacement blood pumps, currently under development at the Helmholtz Institute Aachen: the total artificial heart (TAH) ACcor and the ventricular assist device (VAD) VERSUS. ACcor is being developed for long-term heart replacement. It has been submitted to hydraulic tests, compliance studies, flow visualisation studies, anatomical studies and acute animal experiments. ACcor has been redesigned based upon the results of these validation tests. This resulted in volume - and weight reduction as well as easier implantation possibilities. VERSUS is designed for bridge to recovery. It has been submitted to hydraulic tests, functional tests, endurance tests and animal experiments. The design of VERSUS has been improved based upon these results as well. The latest version of VERSUS was tested successfully in an animal experiment of 37 days. The development of a novel data acquisition system for animal experiments to enable a complete freedom of movement of the animal is discussed: it supplies power to the pump by exchangeable batteries, which is worn by the animal in a backpack. Also a fulltime telemetry monitoring is integrated. Finally, this PhD thesis presents an overview of systemic design and validation methods for ACcor and VERSUS. It includes past - and future development steps.

Institutions

• [811001-1]
• Chair and Institute of Mechanism Theory, Machine Dynamics and Robotics [411910]