Long-term in vivo left ventricular assist device study for 284 days with Gyro PI pump

A totally implantable centrifugal artificial heart has been developed. The plastic prototype, the Gyro PI 601, passed 2 day hemodynamic tests as a fun ctional total artificial heart (TAH), 2 week screening tests for anti-throm bogenecity, and a 1 month system feasibility study. Based upon these result s, a metallic prototype, the Gyro PI700 series, was subjected to long-term in vivo left ventricular assist device (LVAD) studies of over 1 month. The Gyro PI700 series has the same inner dimension and same characteristics of the Gyro PI 601 such as an eccentric inlet port, a double pivot bearing sys tem, and a magnet coupling system. The PI metallic pump is also driven with the Vienna DC brushless motor actuator like the PI 601. The pump-actuator package was implanted in 3 calves in the preperitoneal space, bypassing fro m the left ventricular (LV) apex to the descending aorta. Case 1 achieved a 284 day survival. Case 2 was euthanized early at 72 postoperative days as a result of the functional obstruction of the inlet port due to the excessi ve growth of the calf. There was no blood clot inside the pumps of either c ase. Case 3 is on-going (22 days on July 24, 1998). During these periods, a ll cases showed no physiological abnormalities. In conclusion, the PI700 se ries pump has excellent results as a long-term implantable LVAD.