Generation of Pulsatile Flow in Rotary Pumps

A method is proposed for generating pulsatile flow using a self-controlled device attached to the inlet line of a rotary ventricular assist pump. The design is a cylinder with a mobile elastic membrane made of polypropylene. The device provides full opening of the lumen of the inlet line in the systolic phase in copulsation mode. The lumen of the inlet line decreases in the diastolic phase. The operation of pumps without and with the pulsator was compared using a hydraulic system modeling heart failure. High values were obtained for pulsation (30-40 mm Hg) as compared with the nonpulsatile mode (12 mm Hg). Calculations of the required thickness of the elastic membrane are given.