Surface-modified acrylic polymers in artificial heart pumps.

Blood chambers of counterpulsation heart pumps were subjected to a special hydrophilization process in order to reduce the coagulation activity of the surface of poly(methyl methacrylate) (PMMA). The chemical treatment of the surface was carried out in three variants, namely A (ethylenglycol), B (diethylenglycol), C (glycerine) by using concentrated sulphuric acid with subsequent neutralization [12]. Controls were performed with the same pumps made of PMMA but without surface treatment. 30 dogs were used in the experiments.