ATS
HOME HELP FEEDBACK SUBSCRIPTIONS ARCHIVE SEARCH TABLE OF CONTENTS
QUICK SEARCH:   [advanced]


     

This Article
Right arrow Full Text
Right arrow Full Text (PDF)
Right arrow Alert me when this article is cited
Right arrow Alert me if a correction is posted
Right arrow Citation Map
Services
Right arrow Email this article to a friend
Right arrow Similar articles in this journal
Right arrow Similar articles in PubMed
Right arrow Alert me to new issues of the journal
Right arrow Add to Personal Folders
Right arrow Download to citation manager
Right arrow Permission Requests
Citing Articles
Right arrow Citing Articles via Google Scholar
Google Scholar
Right arrow Articles by Reichenbach, S. H.
Right arrow Articles by Hill, J. D.
Right arrow Search for Related Content
PubMed
Right arrow PubMed Citation
Right arrow Articles by Reichenbach, S. H.
Right arrow Articles by Hill, J. D.
Related Collections
Right arrow Mechanical Circulatory Assistance

Ann Thorac Surg 2001;71:S171-S175
© 2001 The Society of Thoracic Surgeons

Session 4: pulsatile implantable devices

A versatile intracorporeal ventricular assist device based on the Thoratec VAD system

Steven H. Reichenbach, PhDa,b, David J. Farrar, PhDa, J. Donald Hill, MDb

a Thoratec Laboratories Corporation, Pleasanton, California, USA
b Department of Cardiac Surgery, California Pacific Medical Center, San Francisco, California, USA

Address reprint requests to Dr Hill, Department of Cardiac Surgery, California Pacific Medical Center, 2100 Webster, Suite 512, San Francisco, CA 94115
e-mail: jdhill{at}brown.cpmc.org

Presented at the Fifth International Conference on Circulatory Support Devices for Severe Cardiac Failure, New York, NY, Sept 15–17, 2000.

Abstract

Background. As patients are supported for longer durations with paracorporeal Thoratec left ventricular and biventricular assist devices (longest durations: 515 and 457 days, respectively), there is a need for implantable options.

Methods. We are developing a small, simple, and versatile intracorporeal ventricular assist device (IVAD) for left, right, or biventricular support as an alternative to the large, implantable, pulsatile left ventricular assist device (LVAD) systems available today. The new device is based on the Thoratec paracorporeal VAD that has been used in more than 1,400 patients weighing from 17 to 144 kg and for durations exceeding 1 year including patient discharge (using the portable driver).

Results. The IVAD has the same blood flow path and Thoralon polyurethane blood pumping sac as the paracorporeal VAD, but the housing is a smooth contoured, polished titanium alloy. The IVAD has a new sensor to detect when the pump is full and empty, and is controlled with the Thoratec TLC-II portable VAD driver, which is a small, briefcase-sized, battery-powered, pneumatic control unit. A small flexible (9 mm OD) percutaneous pneumatic driveline for each VAD is tunneled out of the body from the LVAD or right VAD in a pre- or intraperitoneal position. Small size and simplicity are the major advantages of the new device. The IVAD weight (339 g) and implanted volume (252 mL) are approximately one-half that of the current implantable pulsatile electromechanical LVAD systems.

Conclusions. The small size of the IVAD should not only allow support of a large range of patient sizes and body habitus, but also provide options for implantable left, right, or biventricular support. By implanting only the mechanically simple blood pump, the more complex control unit is external, where it can be serviced and replaced without surgery. The IVAD with the portable driver will be a viable alternative to large implanted electromechanical systems and should address a larger segment of the physically diverse patient population.






HOME HELP FEEDBACK SUBSCRIPTIONS ARCHIVE SEARCH TABLE OF CONTENTS
ANN THORAC SURG ASIAN CARDIOVASC THORAC ANN EUR J CARDIOTHORAC SURG
J THORAC CARDIOVASC SURG ICVTS ALL CTSNet JOURNALS
Copyright © 2001 by The Society of Thoracic Surgeons.