Are the Jarvik Artificial Ventricles Limited By Inflow Resistance?

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Abstract
The pneumatic, total artificial heart was assumed to be inflow limited. Mock circulation studies on the Jarvik-5 and Jarvik-7 artificial ventricles seemed to support this assumption because a Starling''s response comparable to that of the natural heart was not achieved. Mock circulation studies do not separate the effects of valvular regurgitation from inflow resistance. By using a simple filling tank, filling times were determined for the Jarvik ventricles that were a function of inflow resistance alone. Theoretical maximum cardiac outputs based on these inflow resistance-dependent filling times were calculated. For filling pressures .apprx. 5 mmHg and under modest diastolic vacuum of 5 cm H2O, the Jarvik ventricles yield a theoretical cardiac output as good as the natural heart''s. Inflow resistance is not a limiting factor, and valvular regurgitation is left as the most likely cause of a less than optimal Starling''s response on mock circulation and in vivo.

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