Abstract
We have been developing an electrohydraulic total artificial heart (EH) with a motor integrated regenerative pump as an energy converter, The motor and the regenerative pump was improved to move a chronic animal implantation. Three phases and four poles brushless DC motor, which has maximum efficiency of 79% at a motor rotation of 2500rpm with a load of 1kg/cm, was developed for the new actuator. Design of flow channel of the regenerative oil pump was optimized, which resulted in increasing maximum flow rate at one directional motor rotation from 18 to 28L/min. In vitro performance of the EH was evaluated in a mock circulation with 100mmHg of afterload on the left side, 20mmHg on the right side, and 10mmHg of preload on both sides. Maximum output was 10.7L/min at a pump rate of 120bpm Double diaphragm type blood pump (DDP) was also developed to compensate the balance between left and right pump output. Preload sensitive ability of the DDP was evaluated in in vitro experiment. We will turn upon a chronic animal experimental stage with the EH in next few months.
