Pediatric Blood Pump Development

One problem facing cardiac surgeons is lack of suitable devices to provide temporary cardiacsupport to neonates and pediatric aged patients. Existing devices used clinically (ECMO and centrifugalpumps) are too large relative to the size of the patient. The specific aims of this program focus ondemonstration of a new rotary pump intended solely for these special young patients. Our latestcreation is a very small, inexpensive centrifugal blood pump for adult cardiopulmonary bypassprocedures. Extensive in vitro testing verifies that this pump is equivalent in flow performance andhemolysis generation to existing centrifugal devices. Preliminary studies show that the Nimbus pumpadapts readily to a neonatal/pediatric version. The key innovation is that the resulting pump size (15 ccpriming volume) is 1/5 to 1/3 that of existing centrifugal pumps. This study will evaluate this pumpconcept through in vitro testing of flow performance, hemolysis generation, and shaft seal integrity. Invivo tests, to be performed at the University of Pittsburgh, are intended to demonstrate thehemodynamic performance, biocompatibility and general suitability of this pump for neonatal/pediatricapplications. A Phase II study would involve longer in vivo trials and development of the pump and itscontrol as a clinical product.