Journal of biomechanics
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Journal of biomechanics · Jan 2013
ReviewThe Syncardia(™) total artificial heart: in vivo, in vitro, and computational modeling studies.
The SynCardia(™) total artificial heart (TAH) is the only FDA-approved TAH in the world. The SynCardia(™) TAH is a pneumatically driven, pulsatile system capable of flows of >9L/min. The TAH is indicated for use as a bridge to transplantation (BTT) in patients at imminent risk of death from non-reversible bi-ventricular failure. ⋯ To aid in the development of a new "pediatric," TAH an engineering methodology known as "Device Thrombogenicity Emulation (DTE)", that we have recently developed and described, is being employed. Recently, to further our engineering understanding of the TAH, as steps towards next generation designs we have: (1) assessed of the degree of platelet reactivity induced by the present clinical 70 cc TAH using a closed loop platelet activity state assay, (2) modeled the motion of the TAH pulsatile mobile diaphragm, and (3) performed fluid-structure interactions and assessment of the flow behavior through inflow and outflow regions of the TAH fitted with modern bi-leaflet heart valves. Developing a range of TAH devices will afford biventricular replacement therapy to a wide range of patients, for both short and long-term therapy.