Animal Trials of a Magnetically Levitated Left-Ventricular Assist Device

he University of Pittsburglv_agnetic Moments mag-lev left-ventricniar assist devices (LVADs), the Streamliner HG3b and HG3c, have successfully been implanted in calves. The first was implanted for 4 hours on Jtfly I0, 1998 (Figure 1) and the second for 34 days on August 24, 1999 respectively. The tests confirmed the feasibility of low power levitation (1.5 watts coil power) and very low blood damage in a mag-lev ventricular assist device. In this paper, we describe the unique geometry of this pump and its design. Key features of this LVAD concept are the passive radial suspension and active voice-coil thrust bearing.