DEVELOPMENT OF A CUSTOM-DESIGNED TAH USING RAPID PROTOTYPING

The failure of the orthotopic implantation of a totally implantable ar tificial heart (TAH) was due mainly to anatomic mismatches in the cond uits of the conventional TAH system. To overcome this anatomic incompa tibility, a custom design and fabrication process was designed using t he rapid prototyping (RP) technique. After three dimensional reconstru ction of magnetic resonance imaging of the thoracic cavity and vascula r remnants of the recipient, study of anatomic fit was done using the reconstructed thoracic model and three dimensional computer aided desi gn (CAD) model. The direction of the inflow and outflow conduits of th e blood sac was changed with a Unigraphics CAD. The RP model of the de signed chamber was fabricated and examined for anatomic compatibility. Through this approach, the minute directional mismatch of the inflow and outflow conduits was improved. Thus, a new custom designed moving actuator Korean TAH with CAD and RP techniques was developed.