The Pennsylvania State University Roller Screw Electric Total Artificial Heart: 205 Days Survival In The Calf

Abstract

A 100 cc size roller screw electric total artificial heart has been implanted in IO animals at The Pennsylvania State University; four of those animals have survived in excess of 100 days, with one animal living 205 days. The 205 day animal. Agnes, had a preoperative weight of 103 kg and gained 73 kgs over the 205 day implant duration. The calf was under automatic electronic control the entire duration of the experiment, and tolerated weekly exercise very well. The cause of death in the animal was corrosion debris lodging between the rotor and stator; this corrosion debris was corrosion generated by the electric motor stack. Subsequent experiments utilize a coated stack to eliminate corrosion.