The effect of balloon pumping on mechanical heart valves

Abstract

Mechanical heart assist device is one of the treatment mode for heart failure due to insufficient heart donor. Chronic Intermittent Mechanical Support (CIMS) is designed to offer chronic support to the heart using counterpulsation technique similar to the Intra Aortic Balloon Pump (IABP). The CIMS balloon pump is designed to be implanted at the ascending aorta between the aortic valve and brachiocephalic artery. The effect of balloon pump deflation on a mechanical aortic heart valve was investigated in a human mock circulatory loop. There were two different heart rate used (54 beats/min and 60 beats/min) during in-vitro experiment. Flow visualization technique was used to capture images of the aortic valve leaflet before and during balloon pump activation. Still images were obtained from the video, and statistical test were carried out. It was found that balloon deflation prior to systole caused the aortic heart valve to open earlier (p < 0.001) by rendering pressure gradient across the aortic mechanical valve positive for a fraction of a time.