Development of an Implantable Small Right Ventricular Assist Device

Currently, at least two permanent implantable left ventricular assist devices (LVADs) are used clinically. Unfortunately, there is no small implantable right ventricular assist device (RVAD) available, even though at least 25–30% of this patient population has right ventricular failure. If a small implantable RVAD were available, biventricular assist could support patients with right ventricular failure. A small atraumatic and antithrombogenic RVAD is being developed to meet this clinical need. This small centrifugal blood pump, the Gyro PI pump, is 6.5 cm in diameter and 4.6 cm in height and has three unique characteristics to prevent thrombus formation(1) the double pivot bearing and magnetic coupling system enable this pump to be completely sealless; (2) the secondary vanes at the bottom of the impeller accelerate the blood flow and prevent blood stagnation; and (3) the eccentric inlet port enables the top female bearing to be embedded into the top housing and decrease blood cell trauma. The inflow conduit consists of a wire reinforced tube and a hat-shaped tip that is biolized with gelatin to create a thrombus resistant material. This conduit is directly implanted into the right ventricle, and the outflow conduit is anastomosed to the PA. The pump can be implanted inside the abdominal wall or in the thoracic cavity. Biocompatibility of this pump was proved in two calves by thrombus free implantation as an LVAD for 284 days and 200 days. Two RVAD implantations were conducted, aiming for 1-month system feasibility studies. During the month, the RVADs operated satisfactorily without any thromboembolic incident. No blood clots or abnormal findings were seen inside the pump, nor were there abnormal findings in the explanted lungs except for small areas of atelectasis. The pump flow was 3.02 ± 0.38 L/min in calf 1 and 3.75 ± 1.18 L/min in calf 2. The power requirement was 7.28 ± 0.43W for calf 1 and 14.52 ± 3.93W for calf 2. The PaO2 was 72.0 ± 3.60 mm Hg (calf 1) and 72.0 ± 7.63 mm Hg (calf 2); PaCO2 was 38.3 ± 2.17 mm Hg (calf 1) and 34.1 ± 1.95 mm Hg (calf 2); and SaO2 was 94.1 ± 1.37% (calf1) and 95.0 ± 1.95% (calf 2). Gas exchange via the lungs was maintained. These studies indicate that the Gyro PI pump is suitable as a single implantable RVAD, and is a feasible RVAD as a part of a BiVAD system in terms of pump performance and thrombus resistance.