Cardiac output regulation in the moving actuator total artificial heart without a compliance chamber.

A new cardiac output regulation method for the moving actuator total artificial heart (TAH) has been developed without using an extra compliance chamber or any transducer. The left and right ventricular sacs are alternately pumped by the pendulous moving actuator, with the left sac attached to the actuator and a free right ventricle. Preload sensitive cardiac output response is achieved by adjusting heart rate just below the level needed to generate atrial collapse, while maintaining full-fill and full-ejection conditions. The motor current waveform analysis detects mild atrial suction related to the amount of venous return. In addition, the structural characteristic of the pendulous moving actuator allows for manipulation of the left and right ventricular output difference by adjusting the asymmetry of stroke angle to either the left or right. In mock circulatory system tests, cardiac output increased from 5 to 9 L/min, with left atrial pressure (LAP) maintained at approximately 5 mmHg higher than right atrial pressure (RAP) over a physiologic range of preload (0-12 mmHg of RAP) and afterload [80-120 mmHg of aortic pressure (AoP)].