Design and evaluation of a hybrid mock circulatory loop for total artificial heart testing.

Aims: A hybrid mock circulatory loop (MCL) was developed for total artificial heart (TAH) performance evaluation. The hybrid MCL consists of hydraulic hardware components and a software computer model.

Design: The hydraulic components are divided into the systemic and pulmonary circulation, each of which includes electrically controlled compliances, resistors, and a venous volume which can be adjusted for a wide range of physiological and pathological conditions.

Image based evaluation of mediastinal constraints for the development of a pulsatile total artificial heart.

Background: Good anatomical compatibility is an important aspect in the development of cardiovascular implants. This work analyzes the interaction of the pump unit of an electrically driven pulsatile Total Artificial Heart (TAH) and the mediastinum. For an adequate compliance, both overall dimensions and alignment of inlets and outlets must be matched.