The Ellipsoid Left Ventricular Assist Device: Experimental and Clinical Results

Abstract

Although DeBakey achieved already in 1966 a partial success with a paracorporeal atrio-axillar bypass ventricle in his first clinical trials, the next decade became a period of experimental and, later to a greater extent, of clinical application of intra-aortic balloon pumping (IABP) as a mechanical circulatory support system. The experiences with this method have shown it to have significantly limited efficiency. The desire for more efficient devices has become a necessity. An exact analysis of De Bakey’s data proves the atrio-axillar, the atrio-aortic bypass, also a method too restricted in its output, 400 and 1200ml/min, which seldom suffices in critical situations. Thus, to improve the efficiency of a left heart bypass pump by using the left ventricular pressure itself as filling pressure of the artificial blood chamber became an obvious goal. The critical disadvantage of an atrio-aortic bypass, i.e., the inadequate, low output, can in this way be avoided.

With support of the Austrian Research Council and the Ludwig Boltzmann Institute for Cardiosurgi-cal Research.