Cycle Testing of the MagScrew Total Artificial Heart External Battery Pack

Abstract:  MagScrew total artificial heart (TAH) external battery pack (EBP) cycle bench testing was conducted on two Wilson Greatbatch (Clarence, NY, USA) lithium ion EBPs over a period of 22 months during continuous charge and discharge cycles under a simulated TAH system current requirement. A custom electronic load was developed to simulate the MagScrew current waveforms typically observed during nominal operation. These current load profiles were applied to the EBP under test during a voltage-defined discharge cycle. EBP endurance indicated a 240-min discharge cycle on a new battery diminishing linearly to 175 min after 800 cycles. A second linear trend started at this knee with 150 min of discharge time at 850 cycles until 10 min at 1600 cycles. Even at 1300 cycles, the EBP could still provide enough power for 60 min of nominal operation. In conclusion, the endurance performance of this EBP was satisfactory while exhibiting a predictable wear-out trend.