Flow assessment as a function of pump timing of tubular pulsatile pump for use as a ventricular assist device in a left heart simulator

INTRODUCTION

Although mechanical circulatory support saved many lives during the last decade, clinical observations have shown that the continuous flow pumps are associated with a much higher incidence of gastrointestinal bleeding and kidney problems, among others, compared with the earlier generation pulsatile pumps. However, the presence of several moving mechanical components made pulsatile pumps less durable, bulky, and prone to malfunction, ultimately leading to bias in favor of continuous flow designs.

OBJECTIVE

The aim of the current work is to create a prototype tubular pulsatile pump and to test the timing of the pump in a left heart simulator.

METHODS

A left heart simulator to mimic pumping from a failing heart was created. This was used to experimentally test the output of a prototype ventricular assist device relative to a failing heart in the form of flow and pressure. The effect of pulsation timing was quantified.

RESULTS

A failing heart was simulated with an average flow rate of 1.1 L/min and a systolic pressure of 47 mmHg. With the pump, the flow rate increases to 4.8 L/min and a systolic pressure of 110mmHg, in a copulsation mode, while activating for 300-400 ms. If the activation time is reduced, or increased, the pump becomes less effective. Load on the heart is reduced when the pump operates in a counterpulsation mode.

CONCLUSION

A pulsatile pump, like the one proposed, provides adequate output for mechanical circulatory support, while minimizing the number of moving parts that could otherwise lead to tribological wear.

The hemodynamic effects of acute aortic regurgitation into a stiffened left ventricle resulting from chronic aortic stenosis

Acute aortic regurgitation (AR) post-chronic aortic stenosis is a prevalent phenomenon occurring in patients who undergo transcatheter aortic valve replacement (TAVR) surgery. The objective of this work was to characterize the effects of left ventricular diastolic stiffness (LVDS) and AR severity on LV performance. Three LVDS models were inserted into a physiological left heart simulator. AR severity was parametrically varied through four levels (ranging from trace to moderate) and compared with a competent aortic valve. Hemodynamic metrics such as average diastolic pressures (DP) and reduction in transmitral flow were measured. AR index was calculated as a function of AR severity and LVDS, and the work required to make up for lost volume due to AR was estimated. In the presence of trace AR, higher LVDS had up to a threefold reduction in transmitral flow (13% compared with 3.5%) and a significant increase in DP (2-fold). The AR index ranged from ∼42 to 16 (no AR to moderate AR), with stiffer LVs having lower values. To compensate for lost volume due to AR, the low, medium, and high LVDS models were found to require 5.1, 5.5, and 6.6 times more work, respectively. This work shows that the LVDS has a significant effect on the LV performance in the presence of AR. Therefore, the LVDS of potential TAVR patients should be assessed to gain an initial indication of their ability to tolerate post-procedural AR.

Impact of aortic annular geometry on aortic valve insufficiency: Insights from a preclinical, ex vivo, porcine model

OBJECTIVES

We sought to create a model of aortic insufficiency in a left heart simulator combined with 3-dimensional echocardiography and finite element modeling of the aortic valve. We examined the effects of aortic root geometry alteration on aortic insufficiency.

METHODS

Porcine aortic roots were analyzed on a left heart simulator before (control, n = 8) and after intervention (n = 8). Intervention entailed 3 vertical incisions at the sinotubular junction with diamond-shaped patches incorporated into the defects to increase the sinotubular junction diameter. Hemodynamic parameters were assessed, including regurgitant volume and fraction. Video and echocardiography images evaluated aortic valve function, coaptation surface area, aortic insufficiency, and effective regurgitant orifice area. Finite element modeling corroborated relationships between root geometry and aortic insufficiency, and examined cusp stress.

RESULTS

The intervention resulted in a sinotubular junction diameter increase of 55% ± 4%. The sinotubular junction to ventriculo-aortic junction diameter ratio was significantly higher in the intervention group (1.89 ± 0.16 vs 1.47 ± 0.04, P = .02). Increased sinotubular junction diameter resulted in aortic insufficiency assessed by regurgitant volume (28 ± 7 mL vs 5 ± 2 mL, P = .004), regurgitant fraction (36% ± 5% vs 7% ± 1%, P < .001), and effective regurgitant orifice (15 ± 5 mm(2) vs 0 mm(2), P = .016). Intervention coaptation surface area was smaller (1.03 ± 0.11 cm(2) vs 1.80 ± 0.08 cm(2), P < .001). There was a linear correlation between increased sinotubular junction/ventriculo-aortic junction ratio and regurgitant fraction (R(2) = 0.65, P = .003). The finite element modeling demonstrated a similar relationship between increasing sinotubular junction diameter and aortic insufficiency severity, and between end-diastolic cusp stresses and sinotubular junction diameters (R(2) = 0.98, P < .001).

CONCLUSIONS

In this model, increasing sinotubular junction diameter is linearly related to reduced coaptation surface area and increasing aortic insufficiency severity. This model provides new insights into aortic insufficiency mechanisms and may be used to evaluate novel interventions for aortic valve repair.