Sensitivity and afterload independence of zero-load aortic flow.
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Animals↗
Biomedical subjects
B G Min
Publications and source records attributed to B G Min.
Accuracy of indicator-dilution measurement of cardiac output in dog: role of coronary circulation.
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Animals↗
Prediction of optimal injection protocol for tumor detection in contrast-enhanced dynamic hepatic CT using simulation of lesion-to-liver contrast difference.
The detection of hepatic lesions in computed tomography (CT) is improved when a contrasting material is administered intravenously, but it depends considerably on how this agent is injected. In this study, we constructed a compartment model for a liver containing a hepato-cellular carcinoma (HCC), and simulated the difference in lesion-to-liver contrast enhancement. Using this model, we simulated the effects of various injection factors on the detectability of a lesion and searched for the optimal injection protocol for detecting tumors in contrast-enhanced dynamic hepatic CTs. We found that the mass injection rate, or k-value (in mg/s), (which is the volume injection rate, in ml/s, multiplied by the contrast agent concentration, in mg/ml) plays a critical role in the injection protocol optimized for tumor detection, and has a unique value for a given body weight independent of the total injection dose.
Adult↗
Performance evaluation of implantable artificial organs by sound spectrum analysis.
In this paper, a sound spectrum analyzing method was proposed to pre detect malfunctions of implantable artificial organs, such as an electromechanical total artificial heart (TAH) or prosthetic valves, without any percutaneous invasion. For this purpose, a sound detecting device was developed using a high sensitivity condenser microphone with a frequency range of more than 13 kHz. Output signals of this device are sampled at 100 kHz maximally, and sampled data are stored in an IBM PC (SamBo, Korea). To remove environmental noises in the measured sound, an adaptive least-mean square algorithm was employed. Using the squared value of the sound signal, the best position where only sounds from mechanical components can be measured was found. The sound spectrum was obtained by the periodogram spectral estimating method. Experiments were performed with this system, and the results indicated that: 1) by using an adaptive noise cancelling algorithm, a more noise-free signal can be obtained; 2) the harmonics from the mechanical components of a pendulum type electromechanical TAH were approximately 1.3 KHz; 3) a spectral change was observed when we compared the power spectral densities of a normal and failed TAH; 4) the spectral shift to higher harmonics occurred with an increase in heart rate; and 5) the sound propagation properties of tissue were investigated with animal experiments. The method proposed was found to be applicable in the detection of implantable artificial organ mechanical failure by sound spectrum analysis without the need for percutaneous invasion.
Acoustics↗
Effect of shear stress on fibrinogen adsorption and its conformational change.
The composition and molecular organization of adsorbed protein films are strongly correlated with thrombogenesis on artificial surfaces. In particular, the antibody-detectable (that is, conformationally intact) bound fibrinogen, but not that the total amount of adsorbed fibrinogen, is correlated with platelet reactivity. In this work, the authors quantified the adsorbed plasma protein distribution inside the left ventricular assist device. They also evaluated the effect of wall shear stress on protein adsorption and conformational change of adsorbed fibrinogen. Conformational change of adsorbed fibrinogen was measured by exposing the fibrinogen preadsorbed polyurethane to three anti-fibrinogen monoclonal antibodies; the 134B-29 detectable alpha 566-580 domain of fibrinogen was increased with increasing concentration of adsorbed fibrinogen, whereas the other two fibrinogen domains were almost saturated when increasing the concentration of adsorbed fibrinogen. The adsorbed amounts of total fibrinogen and monoclonal antibody detectable fibrinogen was decreased with increasing shear rate. Results of in vivo plasma protein adsorption on polyurethane surfaces disclosed that the adsorbed amount of fibrinogen, as well as albumin and globulin, was also decreased with increasing shear rate. In conclusion, less protein was adsorbed in the higher shear region and the effect of shear level on fibrinogen adsorption and its conformational change was strongly dependent upon the surface characteristics of the biomaterials. The monoclonal antibody 134B-29 against the 566-580 domain of fibrinogen was the most reactive with the fibrinogen adsorbed on polyurethane surfaces in this experiment.
Adsorption↗
Development of a precise controller for an electrohydraulic total artificial heart. Improvement of the motor's dynamic response.
In an electrohydraulic total artificial heart developed at the National Cardiovascular Center (Osaka, Japan), two blood pumps are pushed alternatively by means of the bidirectional motion of a brushless DC motor for pump systole and diastole. Improvement in the dynamic response of the motor is very important to obtain better pump performance; this was accomplished by using power electronic simulation. For the motor to have the desired dynamic response, it must be commutated properly and the damping ratio (zeta), which represents transient characteristics of the motor, must lie between 0.4 and 0.8. Consequently, all satisfactory specifications with respect to power consumption must be obtained. Based on the simulated results, the design criteria were determined and the precise controller designed to reduce torque ripple and motor vibration, and determine motor stop time at every direction change. In in vitro tests, evaluation of the controller and dynamic response of the motor was justified in terms of zeta, power consumption, and motor stop time. The results indicated that the power consumption of the controller and the input power of the motor were decreased by 1.2 and 2.5 W at zeta = 0.6, respectively, compared to the previous system. An acceptable dynamic response of the motor, necessary for the reduction of torque ripple and motor vibration, was obtained between zeta = 0.5 and zeta = 0.7, with an increase in system efficiency from 10% to 12%. The motor stop time required for stable motor reoperation was determined to be over 10 msec, for a savings in power consumption of approximately 1.5 W. Therefore, the improved dynamic response of the motor can contribute to the stability and reliability of the pump.
Biomedical Engineering↗
Development of a new blood pump using a shape memory alloy actuator.
A helical spring shape memory alloy actuator has been investigated to be used in a mechanical circulatory support system. The design procedure to determine shape memory alloy and passive bias spring specifications was established. A model device was designed to provide 2 cm stroke by a 100 cm2 pusher plate against a maximum 200 mm Hg pressure load. The prototype device was also developed to verify the feasibility of the shape memory alloy actuator and to confirm the design procedure. In vitro water bath test results verified the feasibility of the shape memory alloy actuator for use in a mechanical circulatory support system.
Alloys↗
In vivo experiment leading to clinical application of an electrohydraulic ventricular assist device with magnetic coupling.
We developed an electrohydraulic ventricular assist device with magnetic coupling. The integrated system consists of a blood pump, a water conduit for pressure transmission, a bellows type pumping sac, an actuator for transforming the circular motion of a motor to the linear motion of a pusher plate attached to the pumping sac with magnetic coupling, and a controller. The purpose of the coupling was to prevent excessive sucking against the atrial wall. Number 21 Medtronic Hall (Irvine, CA) mechanical valves were used in the inflow and outflow ports of the blood pump. Maximum dynamic stroke volume was 48 ml, and against a mean afterload of 100 mm Hg, maximum pump output was 7 L/min. Chronic in vivo experiments were performed in three sheep, and during these evaluations the system showed no noticeable problems related to mechanical or electronic devices. When left atrial pressure decreased below 0 mm Hg, the magnetic coupling system decoupled the pumping sac and pusher plate with satisfactory reliability. The device was clinically applied in a postoperative patient with chronic dilating cardiomyopathy, and no significant device related problems ensued. These results prove that the electrohydraulic ventricular assist system with magnetic coupling is a suitable ventricular assist device.
Animals↗
Analysis of the interventricular pressure waveform in the moving-actuator total artificial heart.
Right and left filling pressures are important parameters in the automatic control of a total artificial heart (TAH) within normal physiologic ranges. Our TAH is composed of a moving actuator, right and left ventricles, and an interventricular space (IVS) enclosed by a semirigid housing. During operation of the TAH, the IVS volume is changed dynamically by the difference between the ejection volume of one ventricle and the inflow volume of the other. We measured the interventricular pressure (IVP) waveform by using a pressure sensor and analyzed the relationship between the IVP and the preload condition. From in vitro and in vivo experiments, we found that the measured filling pressures were linearly related to the negative peak value of the IVP. Additionally, we found that we could use the time interval from actuator start to the positive peak value of the IVP (outflow valve opening) as a useful parameter to estimate the blood filling volume of the diastole ventricle.
Animals↗
Image restoration of digital radiography using dual sensor Wiener filter.
A dual sensor Wiener filter (DSWF) technique was used to improve the image quality of a scanning type digital radiographic system. In a digital radiographic system, image quality is evaluated by resolution and SNR (signal-to-noise ratio), which are two important parameters representing the objective performance of the system. In this method, when two images are acquired in the same region using two sensors with different characteristics of resolution and SNR, they are processed simultaneously using DSWF, which is the extended concept of a Wiener filter to two dimensions. DSWF uses the cross power spectrum between dual sensor outputs of the same chest radiographic image in the design of filter parameters. It has been implemented with fast algorithm using FFT (fast Fourier transform). The performance of the proposed method is compared with that of conventional methods (Wiener filter and parametric projection filter). In simulation studies, it is shown in 12 cases that this new method has SNR improvement of 1-2 dB better than conventional methods.
Humans↗
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)].
Algorithms↗
Development of a totally implantable total artificial heart controller.
Using a one chip microcontroller, 87C196 (One chip EPROM), and an erasable and programmable logic device (EPLD), an implantable control system to drive a pendulum type electromechanical total artificial heart was developed. This control system consists of four parts: a main management system, a motor driver with power regulator, a state monitoring system, and a communication portion. The main system has a speed detector, proportional and integral (PI) control, pulse width modulation (PWM) generation, serial communication, and an analog data processor. Two kinds of power system are used, separated by eight photocoupler arrays to improve system stability. When the performance of each compartment was compared with that of the previously used Z80 microprocessor based control system, good correspondence was shown. Logic power consumption was reduced to one third that of the previous controller. Using mock circulation tests, the overall performance of the control system was evaluated.
Blood Flow Velocity↗
A tether-free, moving actuator total artificial heart.
An electromechanical moving-actuator TAH was developed and implanted for 5 days in a calf experiment. The efficiency and durability were further improved using pendulous motion of the actuator. This new pendulum pump has a circular motion produced by gear mechanisms connected to the motor. It has a height (from valves to housing bottom) of 7 cm and centrally directed inlets and outlets for good fittability. Active filling (-10 mmHg) inside inner blood sacs was produced by the suction effects of the outer sacs attached to a moving actuator. Two acute animal experiments were performed using the pendulum pump with a Coridale sheep (50 kg weight), and a male calf (70 kg weight). A test was made of 30 minutes of tether-free operation of the implanted pendulum pump inside the small chest of the calf. The pump shows the engineering feasibility of the implantable electrical TAH inside a human chest cavity.
Animals↗
In vivo performance evaluation of a transcutaneous energy and information transmission system for the total artificial heart.
As part of an electromechanical total artificial heart (TAH) program, an integrated transcutaneous energy and information transmission (TEIT) system has been developed. In vivo performance of the developed system was evaluated through a simplified animal model without implant of a TAH. The design features include the small size of the implanted part, and dual coil structure of the external part. In the transcutaneous energy transmission (TET) system based on magnetic induction, the external primary and implanted secondary coils have the shape of a truncated cone, 7.0 and 3.8 cm in diameter, and 23 and 12 turns of Litz wire, respectively. The external coil is driven by a 350 to 410 kHz tuned class E amplifier that has a minimum switching loss of power transistor. In vitro test results using 1 cm thick dog's skin showed a flat total efficiency (DC to DC) of 75% for 20 to 30 W of delivered mean power. In order to achieve bidirectional communication between implanted and external components, a small circuit board containing four light emitting diodes and a photodiode was incorporated in each TET coil facing each other across the skin. Unmodulated optical pulse transmitted digital data (9600 baud, RS-232 protocol) in error free condition through an up to 15 mm thick dog's skin patch accommodated 18 degrees of misalignment. Three subacute in vivo studies were conducted in dogs to evaluate performance of the developed system. The secondary set was implanted in the mild flank region of the dog, and the output was percutaneously connected to the control system to drive the external TAH on the mock circulatory system.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)
Animals↗
The fluid dynamic effect on protein adsorption in left ventricular assist devices.
Plasma protein adsorption onto an artificial surface is strongly influenced by not only the surface characteristics of materials, but also by the fluid dynamics inside the blood pump, and it would influence subsequent platelet adhesion or activation, which plays a major role in the initiation of thrombus formation at the blood-material interface in vivo. In vitro flow visualization of an electrohydraulic LVAD was performed by a video camera (CCD, Hitachi) and an image processor (PC VISION PLUS) with an IBM PC. The electrohydraulic LVADs were implanted in mongrel dogs of approximately 20 kg. The authors sectioned the blood contacted ventricle after animal death according to the level of shear rate. Because analysis of adsorbed protein might be influenced by the size of the ventricle segment, the number of segments was limited to eight per ventricle. Platelet adhesion and its morphology were observed by scanning electron microscopy (SEM). Adsorbed plasma proteins (fibrinogen, albumin, and IgG) on each segment were quantified by enzyme linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA). The specimens were soaked in 2% (wt/vol) SDS/PBS for 2 days and the released protein concentration assessed. A well developed large vortex was observed at the center of the artificial ventricle. Polyurethane blood pumps displayed different degrees of protein adsorption and subsequent platelet adhesion on each segment.
Adsorption↗
In vivo canine studies of a Sinkhole valve and vascular graft coated with biocompatible PU-PEO-SO3.
PU-PEO-SO3 was applied as a coating material over a newly designed Sinkhole bileaflet PU heart valve and a porous PU vascular graft. Performance and biocompatibility were evaluated using an in vivo canine shunt system between the right ventricle and pulmonary artery. The survival periods in three implantations were 14, 24, and 39 days, during which no mechanical failure occurred in any Sinkhole valve or vascular graft. Scanning electron microscopy (SEM) studies demonstrated much less platelet adhesion and thrombus formation on PU-PEO-SO3 grafts than on PU vascular grafts. Cracks in the valve leaflet were occasionally observed on PU surfaces, but not on PU-PEO-SO3. After a 39 day implantation, calcium deposition on vascular grafts was decreased as compared with valve leaflets, and calcification on PU-PEO-SO3 was much lower than on PU. These results suggest that Sinkhole valves and vascular grafts are promising, and PU-PEO-SO3 as a coating material is more blood compatible, biostable, and calcification resistant in vivo than in untreated PU.
Animals↗
Endothelial cell seeding onto the extracellular matrix of fibroblasts for the development of a small diameter polyurethane vessel.
A variety of experiments of endothelial cell seeding on artificial vessels have been performed. To improve endothelialization, one or two extracellular matrix components have been used as an underlying matrix. Although these methods have succeeded in in vitro experiments, they have not performed well in vivo. In this study, the authors used the whole extracellular matrix (ECM) excreted from fibroblasts as an underlying matrix. Fetal human fibroblasts were cultured on a polyurethane (PU) sheet. After confluence was attained, the cytoskeleton and the nuclei of the fibroblasts were destroyed using Triton-X, mitomycin, and irradiation. Omental microvascular endothelial cells from adult humans were seeded on various supports. After 12 days in culture, the cells were counted. The authors found that the ECM treated by irradiation had the highest cell number. In addition, the cells on this support exhibited the best morphologic appearance. Finally, the authors performed preliminary animal experiments. The PU vessels (inner diameter: 1.5 mm) treated with ECM were implanted in the arteries of rats. After the vessels had been implanted for 5 weeks, the authors found that the surface of the PU vessels were completely covered with endothelial cells. On the basis of these results, the authors conclude that the whole ECM makes a better underlying substrate for the endothelialization of small diameter artificial vessels.
Anastomosis, Surgical↗
Intelligent Li ion battery management based on a digital signal processor for a moving actuator total artificial heart.
An intelligent Li Ion battery management (ILBM) system was developed based on a digital signal processor (DSP). Instead of using relatively complicated hardware charging control, a DSP algorithm was used, and favorable characteristics in volume, mass, and temperature increase of the implantable battery were achieved. In vitro tests were performed to evaluate the DSP based algorithm for Li Ion charging control (24 V dc motor input power 16 W, 5 L/min, 100 mmHg afterload). In this article, the first improvement was volume reduction using a Li Ion battery (3.6 V/Cell, 900 mA, seven cells: 25.2 V, 22.7 W). Its volume and mass were decreased by 40% and 50% respectively (40*55*75 mm, 189 g), compared to previously reported results, with total energy capacity increased by 110% (more than 60 min vs 25 min run time in the other battery). The second improvement includes the ILBM, which can control the performance detection for each unit cell and has a low temperature rise. The ILBM's unit cell energy detection was important because the low performance of one cell dropped to 50% of the total performance along with a 20% increase in surface temperature. All electronics for a transcutaneous energy transmission (TET), battery, and telemetry were finalized for hybridization and used for total artificial heat (TAH) implantation.
Algorithms↗