HeartWare HVAD Flow Estimator Accuracy for Left and Right Ventricular Support

ASAIO Journal, vol. 67, pp. 416–422

Abstract

This study investigated the accuracy of the HeartWare HVAD flow estimator for left ventricular assist device (LVAD) support and biventricular assist device (BiVAD) support for modes of reduced speed (BiVAD-RS) and banded outflow (BiVAD-B). The HVAD flow estimator was evaluated in a mock circulatory loop under changes in systemic and pulmonary vascular resistance, heart rate, central venous pressure, and simulated hematocrit (correlated to viscosity). A difference was found between mean estimated and mean measured flow for LVAD (0.1 ± 0.3 L/min), BiVAD-RS (-0.1 ± 0.2 L/min), and BiVAD-B (0 ± 0.2 L/min). Analysis of the flow waveform pulsatility showed good correlation for LVAD (r2 = 0.98) with a modest spread in error (0.7 ± 0.1 L/min), while BiVAD-RS and BiVAD-B showed similar spread in error (0.7 ± 0.3 and 0.7 ± 0.2 L/min, respectively), with much lower correlation (r2 = 0.85 and r2 = 0.60, respectively). This study demonstrated that the mean flow error of the HVAD flow estimator is similar when the device is used in LVAD, BiVAD-RS, or BiVAD-B configuration. However, the instantaneous flow waveform should be interpreted with caution, particularly in the cases of BiVAD support.

Authors 7

1. Andrew F. Stephens corresponding

   Monash University · Baker Heart and Diabetes Institute

   Affiliation as printed

   Cardiorespiratory Engineering and Technology Laboratory, Baker Heart and Diabetes Institute, Melbourne, VIC, Australia

   Department of Mechanical and Aerospace Engineering, Monash University, Melbourne, VIC, Australia

2. Martin Mapley

   Griffith University · Prince Charles Hospital

   Affiliation as printed

   Innovative Cardiovascular Engineering and Technology Laboratory, Critical Care Research Group, The Prince Charles Hospital, Chermside, QLD, Australia

   School of Engineering and Built Environment, Griffith University, Brisbane, QLD, Australia

3. Eric Lee-Jan Wu

   The University of Queensland · Prince Charles Hospital

   Affiliation as printed

   Innovative Cardiovascular Engineering and Technology Laboratory, Critical Care Research Group, The Prince Charles Hospital, Chermside, QLD, Australia

   School of Medicine, University of Queensland, Brisbane, QLD, Australia

4. John Francis Fraser

   The University of Queensland · Prince Charles Hospital

   Affiliation as printed

   Innovative Cardiovascular Engineering and Technology Laboratory, Critical Care Research Group, The Prince Charles Hospital, Chermside, QLD, Australia

   School of Medicine, University of Queensland, Brisbane, QLD, Australia

5. Ulrich Steinseifer corresponding Aachen Cardiovascular Engineering

   RWTH Aachen University · Monash University · Baker Heart and Diabetes Institute

   Affiliation as printed

   Cardiorespiratory Engineering and Technology Laboratory, Baker Heart and Diabetes Institute, Melbourne, VIC, Australia

   Cardiovascular Engineering, Rheinisch-Westfälische Technische Hochschule Aachen University, Aachen, Germany

   Department of Mechanical and Aerospace Engineering, Monash University, Melbourne, VIC, Australia

6. Nicole Bartnikowski

   Prince Charles Hospital

   Affiliation as printed

   Innovative Cardiovascular Engineering and Technology Laboratory, Critical Care Research Group, The Prince Charles Hospital, Chermside, QLD, Australia

7. Shaun David Gregory corresponding

   Monash University · Baker Heart and Diabetes Institute

   Affiliation as printed

   Cardiorespiratory Engineering and Technology Laboratory, Baker Heart and Diabetes Institute, Melbourne, VIC, Australia

   Department of Mechanical and Aerospace Engineering, Monash University, Melbourne, VIC, Australia