HeartMate II left ventricular assist system: from concept to first clinical use

• Published in: The Annals of thoracic surgery Vol. 71; no. 3; pp. S116 - S120
• Main Authors: Griffith, Bartley P, Kormos, Robert L, Borovetz, Harvey S, Litwak, Kenneth, Antaki, James F, Poirier, Victor L, Butler, Kenneth C
• Format: Journal Article Conference Proceeding
• Language: English
• Published: New York, NY Elsevier Inc 01.03.2001; Elsevier Science
• Subjects: Anesthesia. Intensive care medicine. Transfusions. Cell therapy and gene therapy; Biological and medical sciences; Emergency and intensive cardiocirculatory care. Cardiogenic shock. Coronary intensive care; Equipment Design; Heart-Assist Devices; Humans; Intensive care medicine; Medical sciences; Pressure; Artificial heart; Human; Heart failure; Intensive cardiocirculatory care; Cardiocirculatory support; Calf; Cardiovascular disease; Ox; Terminal stage; Case history; Left ventricle; Vertebrata; Mammalia; Heart disease; Animal; Clinical trial; Artiodactyla; Ungulata
• ISSN: 0003-4975; 1552-6259
• DOI: 10.1016/S0003-4975(00)02639-4

The HeartMate II left ventricular assist device (LVAD) (ThermoCardiosystems, Inc, Woburn, MA) has evolved from 1991 when a partnership was struck between the McGowan Center of the University of Pittsburgh and Nimbus Company. Early iterations were conceptually based on axial-flow mini-pumps (Hemopump) and began with purge bearings. As the project developed, so did the understanding of new bearings, computational fluid design and flow visualization, and speed control algorithms. The acquisition of Nimbus by ThermoCardiosystems, Inc (TCI) sped developments of cannulas, controller, and power/monitor units. The system has been successfully tested in more than 40 calves since 1997 and the first human implant occurred in July 2000. Multicenter safety and feasibility trials are planned for Europe and soon thereafter a trial will be started in the United States to test 6-month survival in end-stage heart failure.