LEFT-HEART BYPASS USING THE OSCILLATED BLOOD-FLOW WITH TOTALLY IMPLANTABLE VIBRATING FLOW PUMP

Aiming at a totally implantable ventricular assist device (VAD), a vib rating flow pump (VFP) was developed in Tohoku University. A transcuta neous energy transmission system (TETS) using an amorphous fiber was d eveloped for the totally implantable VAD system. The VFP works with a higher frequency than the natural heart of a biological system, a freq uency of 10-50 Hz. In this research, animal experiments on left heart bypass were performed with healthy goats. Blood from the apex of the l eft ventricle was received and was sent to the aorta so that an adequa te supporting effect of the left heart was provided. In particular, th e depression effect of the left ventricle was obvious. As a result, su fficient artificial heart flow was provided. For a totally implantable type VAD, left heart bypass of almost 100% may become necessary in so me situations. Therefore, apex approaches of left heart bypass may be desirable. From an anatomical consideration, an apex of the heart is s uitable for the VFP of this totally implantable type. In the left hear t bypass for which the apex of the heart was used, an almost 100% bq p ass was possible. This is a requirement that is important when wailing for recovery of sufficient cardiac function. II is also important tha t left heart circulation is maintained fully by an artificial heart of the complete implantation type. The VFP was considered to be useful a s a totally implantable type artificial heart from the results.