Baylor Multi-Purpose One-Piece Total Artificial Heart (TAH) System for Short-Term to Long-Term Use

A multi-purpose total artificial heart (TAH) system has been developed for use as both a temporary and permanent device. The blood pump is pneumatically-driven in short-term use and is electro-mechanically-driven in long-term or permanent use. Both versions consist of the same components, except for the actuation mechanism and driving source. The common components are a compact pumping chamber with the same configuration, a biolized blood-contacting surface with gelatin, a pusher-plate, a Hexsyn rubber diaphragm, and bovine pericardial valves. Pump configurations have been designed based on anatomical studies of 26 heart transplant patients. The pump is implanted orthotopically as a long-term or permanent device and actuated electro-mechanically. The pneumatic version of the pump is implanted as a short-term device in the postcardiotomy setting or as a bridge to transplant and is pneumatically-driven by a low pressure pumping unit. The pump has a 63-ml stroke volume and is compact compared with other devices being developed. An 81/min pump output has been realized against 120 mmHg afterload in both in vitro and in vivo tests. Currently 1-week survival has been achieved with the electro-mechanical version without an anticoagulation regimen. The results suggest that the currently developed system could be applied in many patients of various population types as a temporary device for postcardiotomy, a long-term device for bridge to transplant, or a permanent device for endstage heart disease.