2016 Volume 54Annual Issue 27PM-Abstract Pages S187
Artificial hearts using rotary blood pumps have the problem of inflow sucking that occurs when drive condition does not match the blood return. When sucking occurs, driving condition should be changed to release the sucking. However, there is no practical sensor to detect inflow sucking. In order to develop an inflow sucking sensor of artificial hearts, we selected flexible conductive silicone rubber. When we install the material in the inflow cannulae or cuffs, its electrical resistance would change with sucking and thus the sucking could be detected. To examine possibility of this material, the cannula in which the conductive silicone was built-in was made and examined with pulsatile flow condition. As a result, in case of more than 30 mmHg of the pulse pressure or 60 mmHg of the diastolic pressure, the change in electrical resistance gave significant differences, showing that such sensor would be available with this material.
