Development of motor driven pusher-plate type left ventricular assist system

Abstract

As the first stage of developing a permanent left ventricular assist_device (LVAD), a prototype system was developed and evaluated. A pusher-plate type pump was driven by an actuator consisting of a brushless DC motor and a ball screw. Results from in vitro test with a mock circulatory system showed that speed and output capabilities of the system were inadequate because of insufficiency of the motor torque capability. Based on the NIH criteria, it was found that torque capability of 1.76Kg·cm at 3600 revolutions per minute was necessary to obtain adequate system performance.