Continued Development of Co-Pulsation, New Ventricular Assist Device

摘要

This was a research and development program to test the feasibility of a new method for augmenting the circulation termed co-pulsation. Co-pulsation is a method of amplifying the pressure waveform in the aorta during systole, by means of a blood pump in series with the aorta, and an associated driving servomechanism and timing and control system. During the period reported on here, in vitro testing indicated that the co-pulsation system had faults that manifested themselves as poor system response, resonances, and instabilities. This prevented true co-pulsation operation since a pressure ratio could not be maintained over the course of a systolic waveform. Physiological evaluation and design improvements are described in this report. Co-pulsation has proved effective in decreasing left ventricular work as measured and defined by several parameters. (Author)