TH-7B pneumatically driven sac-type ventricular assist device and drive system.

TH-7B pneumatically driven sac-type ventricular assist device and drive system including automatic control system were developed and evaluated in the chronic animal experiments. The blood-contacting surfaces of the blood pump are coated with either Cardiothane or Cardiomat. In the chronic experiments using adult goats, only one of fifteen goats showed sudden thrombus formation after 34 pumping days. No gross findings of thrombus formation were observed in any of the cases, except for a thin circular thrombus at the junction of the connectors and the sac of the blood pump. These results suggest that antithrombogenicity of this system was satisfactory for clinical use.