Performance of a newly developed implantable centrifugal blood pump

The performance of the newly developed implantable centrifugal blood pump w as investigated in vitro. The pump was developed with the end goal of build ing a versatile system that includes a left ventricular assist system with an internal secondary battery or an implantable biventricular assist system with two implantable blood pumps. The hydrodynamic characteristics and eff iciency of the blood pump were evaluated, and the mechanical damage to the blood caused by the blood pump was assessed through a hemolysis test using fresh goat blood. The pump could generate 120 mm Hg at a flow rate of 5 L/m in and a motor speed of 2,500 rpm. The electric input power to the pump was approximately 5 watts under these working conditions. The hemolysis caused by the pump was a bit higher than that by the former model, but stayed wit hin an acceptable range. Performance of the pump in vitro was considered su fficient for a left ventricular assist device, although further design impr ovement is necessary in terms of hemolysis and system efficiency to improve biocompatibility of the pump.