Shear Stress, Energy Losses, and Costs: A Resolved Dilemma of Pulsatile Cardiac Assist Devices

Figure 1

(a) Disposable pulsatile tube (pipe). According to patents descriptions (World Intellectual Property Organization: WO/2008/000110 and WO/2010/066899). 1 is flexible inner tube; 2 is rigid external tube; 3 is intermediate chamber; 4 is ports; 5 is connectors. (b) pulsatile tube prototype. External polyvinyl chloride (PVC) tube (1/2 inch); internal Polytetrafluoroethylene (PTFE) tube (12 mm), and connectors (1/16–1/4 inch).

(a)

(b)