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This project is sponsored by:
Sponsor: START
Sponsoring time: 1,5 years
Project beginning: January 11
Student Theses
For student theses click here.
Isolated Porcine Heart
Background
- Abb. 1: Porcine Heart in the Isolated Heart Apparatus at the CVE
The isolated Heart Apparatus is a test-method in between conventional in-vitro methods and animal trials. Due to the real beating heart, the in-vivo situation can be imitated as good as possible for any system or device which is connected to or implanted in the heart, such as blood-pumps or heart valve prostheses. In this way, potential problems and design optimization can be seen prior to the first animal trials.
Methods
After explantation of the heart (pig, sheep, calf) the remaining vessels are connected to the Isolated Heart apparatus. The apparatus provides an oxygenated solution under physiological pressure, temperature and flow conditions. When the coronaries are reperfused, the heart usually starts spontaneous beating. Some time is needed for stabilization and then the heart beats independently for several hours. The apparatus at the Department of Cardiovascular Engineering is self developed and provides multiple measurement possibilities, such as pressures, temperatures, flows, ECG, pH-value and oxygen level.
