Temporal and Spatial Changes in Left Ventricular Pattern of Flow During Continuous Assist Device 'HeartMate II'

The Heartmate II Left Ventricular Assist Device is a new axial impeller pump that is smaller than many existing devices and has no need for percutaneous venting. These features have the potential to reduce complications, lengthen durability, and enhance full implantability and good left ventricular unloading. The optimal operating conditions, however, remain to be elucidated. Changes in pump speed can produce temporal and spatial changes in the pattern of blood flow in the left ventricle (LV). These changes could influence the overall pump flow, cardiac …