Abstract
A VAD system for postoperative pediatric patients weighing 3-10kg is under development in our institute. Cannulae are designed on the basis of anatomical studies on 25 cases of congenital heart deseases within that body weight range. The fabricated outflow cannula has a EPTFE graft of 5mm φ on its end. The tip of inflow cannula has an inner diameter of 5mm. In vitro and in vivo evaluations of those cannulae were done in combination with a small pneumatic pump which has the stroke volume of 15ml. The system demonstrated output of more than 1.0L/min in a moc-circulation and up to 900ml/min in an acute animal experiment under the conventional driving conditions.
