Closing behavior of the mechanical heart valve in a total artificial heart.

Recently, cavitation on the surface of mechanical heart valves has been studied as a cause of fractures occurring in implanted mechanical heart valves. The cause of cavitation in mechanical heart valve was investigated in both 25-mm Björk-Shiley and 25-mm Medtronic Hall valves. The closing events of these valves in the mitral position were simulated in an electrohydraulic total artificial heart with a stroke volume of 85 ml.

In vivo evaluation of the pulsatile ECLS system.

Extracorporeal life support (ECLS) systems have been increasingly applied to groups of patients with cardiorespiratory failure, including pediatric and adult patients with respiratory failure. Current pulsatile ECLS systems use a single pulsatile blood pump that generates a high inlet pressure in the membrane oxygenator. To minimize this high inlet pressure, we have developed a new and improved ECLS system, twin pulse life support (T-PLS).

Korean artificial heart (AnyHeart): an experimental study and the first human application.

A Korean artificial heart (AnyHeart) has been implanted in 29 various animals (52-470 kg) to evaluate hemodynamic performance and electromechanical stability. Most were implantable biventricular assist devices in use. A right thoracotomy approach has been a standard technique of implantation.