Search PubMed⌕ Search

Biomedical subjects

R Yozu

Publications and source records attributed to R Yozu.

98 records · Page 6Linked to original sources

A durable, non power consumptive, simple seal for rotary blood pumps.

One of the key technologic requirements for rotary blood pumps is the sealing of the motor shaft. A mechanical seal, a journal bearing, magnetic coupling, and magnetic suspension have been developed, but they have drawbacks such as wear, thrombus formation, and power consumption. A magnetic fluid seal was developed for an axial flow pump. A magnetic fluid seal is durable, simple, and non power consumptive. Long-term experiments and finite element modeling (FEM) analyses confirmed these advantages. The seal body was composed of a Ned-Fe magnet and two pole pieces; the seal was formed by injecting ferrofluid into the gap (50 microm) between the pole pieces and the motor shaft. To contain the ferrofluid in the seal and to minimize the possibility of ferrofluid making contact with blood, a shield with a small cavity was attached to the pole piece. While submerged in blood, the sealing pressure of the seal was measured and found to be 188 mm Hg with ferrofluid LS-40 (saturated magnetization, 24.3 kA/m) at a motor speed of 10,000 rpm and 225 mm Hg under static conditions. The magnetic fluid seals performed perfectly at a pressure of 100 mm Hg for 594 + days in a static condition, and 51, 39+, and 34+ days at a motor speed of 8,000 rpm. FEM analyses indicated a theoretical sealing pressure of 260 mm Hg. The state of the magnetic fluid in the seal in water was observed with a microscope. Neither splashing of magnetic fluid nor mixing of the magnetic fluid and water was observed. The specially designed magnetic fluid seal for keeping liquids out is useful for axial flow blood pumps. The magnetic fluid seal was incorporated into an intracardiac axial flow pump.

Heart-Assist Devices↗

Efficiency of an air filter at the drainage site in a closed circuit with a centrifugal blood pump: an in vitro study.

In a closed circuit with a centrifugal blood pump, one of the serious obstacles to clinical application is sucking of air bubbles into the drainage circuit. The goal of this study was to investigate the efficiency of an air filter at the drainage site. We used whole bovine blood and the experimental circuit consisted of a drainage circuit, two air filters, a centrifugal blood pump, a membrane oxygenator, a return circuit, and a reservoir. Air was injected into the drainage circuit with a roller pump, and the number and size of air bubbles were measured. The air filter at the drainage site could remove the air bubbles (>40 microm) by itself, but adding a vacuum removed more bubbles (>40 microm) than without vacuum. Our results suggest that an air filter at the drainage site could effectively remove air bubbles, and that adding the filter in a closed circuit with a centrifugal blood pump would be safer.

Animals↗

Multiple primary left ventricular myxomas with multiple intraventricular recurrences.

A 23-year-old male was operated on for two primary left ventricular myxomas of the "complex" type. Ten months later, abnormal echo reappeared and reoperation was carried out to excise 2 recurrent myxomas in the left ventricle. Multiple foci were most likely responsible for the recurrence. No recurrence has been detected for 20 months postoperatively. This may be the first reported case of multiple primary left ventricular myxoma with multiple recurrences in the left ventricular cavity.

Adult↗

The valvo-pump. An axial, nonpulsatile blood pump.

The valvo-pump, an axial, nonpulsatile blood pump implanted at the heart valve position while preserving diseased heart muscle, has several advantages over an artificial heart replacement, including 1) a good anatomic fit to the natural heart, 2) less blood contacting surface, and 3) ease of implantation. The housing for the pump is a tube, 37 mm in diameter (maximum) and 33 mm in length. Within the housing there is an impeller with either 10 vanes (33 mm in diameter) or 5 vanes (22 mm in diameter). The impeller is connected to a samarium-cobalt-rare-earth magnet direct current (DC) brushless motor measuring 23.8 mm in diameter and 30.2 mm in length. Sealing is achieved by means of a magnetic fluid seal. A guiding wheel with 4 vanes is located behind the impeller. The pump was studied on a hydraulic mock circulatory system to evaluate its performance characteristics. A pump flow of 6.9 L/min was obtained at a pump differential pressure of 48 mmHg, and flow of 3.1 L/min was obtained at 58 mmHg. The valvo-pump can be made feasible by developing a small, high-output, power motor and an endurable seal, as well as by optimizing the impeller design.

Electric Power Supplies↗

Experimental study of extraaortic balloon counterpulsation as a bridge to other mechanical assists.

A special extraaortic balloon was developed that can be placed around the ascending aorta. This balloon can easily support the heart temporarily in a median sternotomy field, especially in cases in which it is difficult to use intraaortic balloon pumping because of peripheral arterial disease. The goal of this study was to judge the applicability of this extraaortic balloon counterpulsation. An extraaortic balloon was placed around the ascending aorta of eight adult canines. Two heart failure models were used in this study: group A-moderate heart failure; group B-severe heart failure. In group A, the aortic systolic pressure was significantly reduced (9.3%, p < 0.01), but in group B, there was no significant change. In group A, there was a significant increase in cardiac output (12.0%, p < 0.01), but in group B, there was no significant change. The endocardial viability ratio in both groups significantly increased (group A: 11.3%, p < 0.01; group B: 11.9%, p < 0.05). An extraaortic balloon around the ascending aorta is easily applicable through a median sternotomy, and can be used as a bridge to more powerful mechanical assists when intraaortic balloon pumping cannot be used.

Animals↗

Experimental study of combination of extraaortic balloon counterpulsation and ventricular assist cup to acute heart failure in dogs.

The goal of this study is to evaluate the applicability and effectiveness of combination support of the extraaortic balloon (EAB) and the ventricular assist cup (VAC) to the acute heart failure model. Under general anesthesia, 10 adult dogs were used. Through the median sternotomy, EAB was placed around the ascending aorta and VAC in the pericardial cavity. After heart failure was induced by administration of propranolol, the on-off tests of devices were done as follows. Only EAB was used, and only VAC was used and both devices were used. Regional blood flows (RBFs) of both ventricles, liver kidneys, and brain were measured by colored microsphere technique. Hemodynamic parameters were also measured. In heart failure model, cardiac output (CO) decreased to 66% of control value. In the group assisted by EAB, aortic peak-diastolic pressure and RBFs of both ventricle and brain increased significantly. In the group assisted by VAC, CO and RBFs of all but the left ventricle significantly increased. In the group assisted by EAB and VAC, aortic peak-diastolic pressure, CO, and all five RBFs significantly increased. These results suggest the combination of EAB and VAC is applicable and effective and would be a promising implantable device for the chronic heart failure.

Acute Disease↗

Video assisted thoracoscopic and cardioscopic radiofrequency Maze ablation.

The authors examined the feasibility of transthoracic radio frequency Maze ablation of atrial fibrillation using video assisted thoracoscopy and cardioscopy in the experimental setting of a beating porcine heart. In six pigs under general anesthesia, the left atrium was viewed using a video assisted thoracoscopy system (VATS), and radiofrequency linear ablation of the left atrial wall was carried out using a radiofrequency ablation catheter (HAT200S:OSYPKA) inserted through a trocar port. The right atrium was also ablated in the same manner under VATS. In six other pigs, intravenous radiofrequency ablation by cardioscopic catheter device was carried out. Atrial fibrillation was provoked by acetylcholine injection plus rapid atrial pacing. The thoracoscopic visual field created for radiofrequency catheter ablation from a transthoracic approach and the cardioscopic visual field from an intravenous approach were sufficient, and safe positioning of the ablation catheter device on the atrial epicardium and endocardium, which enabled linear ablation of the atrium, was obtained. The Optimal setting for ablation was 70-80 degrees C/ 30 sec duration per each ablation. This process was monitored and documented by a video system through the thoracoscope and cardioscope, and results were confirmed by postmortem macrohistologic examination. In conclusion, the authors' results suggest the potential usefulness of the combination of transthoracic radiofrequency catheter ablation with video assisted thoracoscopic and cardioscopic linear ablation of atrial fibrillation, and the possibility that use of this system might eliminate the need for open heart Maze surgery.

Acetylcholine↗