The NASA artificial heart driver: A pneumatic power source developed for Willem Kolff's artificial heart program.

The sprint to create a viable, implantable heart replacement device started in the 1950s, with current technologies still lacking a permanent solution. Early development of artificial hearts was littered with obstacles related to the power source. A pneumatic driver suggested and developed by NASA aimed to discover a more suitable pressure curve through offering highly manipulable parameters, but also enable automatic regulation of hemodynamics.

Percutaneous Cavopulmonary Assist: From Design to 96 Hour Survival in Lethal Cavopulmonary Failure Sheep.

We are developing a clinically practical percutaneous double lumen cannula (DLC)-based cavopulmonary assist (CPA) system to support failing Fontan patients. In this study, our CPA DLC was redesigned for even blood flow, minimal recirculation, and easy insertion/deployment. After bench testing, this new CPA system was evaluated for 4 hours (n = 10) and 96 hours (n = 5) in our clinically relevant lethal cavopulmonary failure (CPF) sheep model for ease of cannulation/deployment, reversal of CPF hemodynamics/end-organ hypoperfusion, and durability/biocompatibility.

AvalonElite Double Lumen Cannula for Total Cavopulmonary Assist in Failing Fontan Sheep Model with Valved Extracardiac Conduit.

The AvalonElite double lumen cannula (DLC) provides total cavopulmonary assist (CPA) in failing Fontan sheep, but recirculation limits reliability. To improve CPA performance, a two-valve extracardiac conduit (ECC) was used to bracket infusion blood toward pulmonary artery (PA). A total cavopulmonary connection with failing Fontan circulation adult sheep model was created with valved ECC (n = 6).

A transapical-to-aorta double lumen cannula-based neonate left ventricular assist device efficiently unloads the left ventricle in neonate lambs.

Objective: We are developing a transapical-to-aorta double lumen cannula (TAA DLC) for a less-invasive/more dependable neonatal left ventricular assist device.

Methods: The 18-Fr TAA DLC prototypes were bench tested and evaluated for 6 hours in neonate lambs (n = 6, 7.7-10 kg).

Development of a Double-Lumen Cannula for a Percutaneous RVAD.

The objectives were to design/fabricate a double-lumen cannula (DLC) for a percutaneous right ventricular assist device (pRVAD) and to test the feasibility/performance of this pRVAD system. A 27 Fr DLC prototype was made and tested in six adult sheep. The pRVAD DLC was inserted into the right jugular vein; advanced through the superior vena cava, the right atrium (RA), the right ventricle (RV); ending in the pulmonary artery (PA).

A paired membrane umbrella double-lumen cannula ensures consistent cavopulmonary assistance in a Fontan sheep model.

Objectives: The Avalon Elite (Macquet, Rastatt, Germany) double-lumen cannula can provide effective cavopulmonary assistance in a Fontan (total cavopulmonary connection) sheep model, but it requires strict alignment. The objective was to fabricate and test a newly designed paired umbrella double-lumen cannula without alignment requirement.

Methods: The paired membrane umbrellas were designed on the double-lumen cannula to bracket infusion blood flow toward the pulmonary artery.

Resolution of pulmonary hypertension complication during venovenous perfusion-induced systemic hyperthermia application.

We are developing a venovenous perfusion-induced systemic hyperthermia (vv-PISH) system for advanced cancer treatment. The vv-PISH system consistently delivered hyperthermia to adult healthy swine, but significant pulmonary hypertension developed during the heating phase. The goal of this study was to develop a method to prevent pulmonary hypertension.

Physiologic response to a simplified venovenous perfusion-induced systemic hyperthermia system.

Our original venovenous perfusion-induced systemic hyperthermia (vv-PISH) system appeared to significantly improve the survival of patients with lung cancer, but was too complex with numerous dialysis problems. We tested a simplified vv-PISH circuit that includes the Avalon Elite (Avalon Laboratories, LLC, Rancho Dominguez, CA) double lumen cannula, a modified heat exchanger, a water heater/cooler, and a centrifugal pump. The purpose of this study was to evaluate this simplified vv-PISH system (without hemodialyzer) and to investigate the physiologic response to whole-body hyperthermia in pigs.

Development of "plug and play" TransApical to aorta VAD.

Our TransApical to Aorta pump, a simple and minimally invasive left ventricular (LV) assist device, has a flexible, thin-wall conduit connected by six struts to a motor with ball bearings and a turbine extending into the blood path. Pulsatile flow is inherent in the design as the native heart contraction preloads the turbine. In six healthy sheep, the LV apex was exposed by a fifth intercostal left thoracotomy.

Use of aortic valvo-pumps placed in valve annulus for long-term left ventricular assist.

To provide better anatomical fit and physiologic adaptation, three aortic valvo-pumps with different dimensions were developed. Each pump has a rotor with an impeller and drive magnets and a stator consisting of a motor coil with iron core and an outflow guide vane. The devices had outer diameters of 21 mm, 23 mm, and 25 mm, respectively, and weighted 27 g, 31 g, and 40 g, respectively.