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A transcutaneous energy transmission (TET) system is the most common way to power artificial hearts and ventricular assist devices. However, an external battery used with a TET system poses several problems, such as its heavy mass, small charge capacity, and long recharging time. The battery is indispensable when patients want to be ambulatory. This article proposes a new type of TET system that does not require an external battery because electrical energy is supplied remotely by using electromagnetic waves. For this system to operate, multiple transmitting antennas have to be mounted in a room or facility that has been shielded from electromagnetic waves, and a receiving antenna is attached to the patient. Electromagnetic waves transmit electrical power from the transmitting antennas to the receiving antenna. The received electrical power is sent to an implanted device through the TET system. The total power efficiency was plotted against the transmitter–receiver distance by measuring the power that was input to the transmitting antennas, and the final direct current (DC) power that was received by the receiving antenna. A 430-MHz frequency was applied in the experiments. The obtained efficiency was around 10% within a transmitter–receiver distance of 1 m when Yagi-Uda antennas were used for the transmitting antennas and two other types of antenna were used for the receiving antennas: a folded dipole with a reflector and a single loop with a reflector. The results suggested that the proposed system is worth considering. The proposed system would go a long way toward enhancing the patient's quality of life compared with the currently used conventional TET system. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The purpose of this study was to demonstrate the feasibility of the use of an implantable, high-energy, and compact battery system for an undulation pump total artificial heart (UPTAH). The implantable battery system tested consists of six lithium-ion batteries in series, a charge unit, and a charge/discharge control unit. A lithium-ion battery is currently the best energy-storage device because it has more energy density, a better life cycle, and a smaller temperature rise than those of other secondary batteries. The performance of the implantable battery system was evaluated in an in vitro experiment using an electric load that simulated the UPTAH. Also, sufficiently reliable operation of a system for supplying energy to a UPTAH consisting of a transcutaneous energy transmission system (TETS) and an implantable battery system was confirmed in three experiments using goats. The results of the in vitro and in vivo experiments showed that the implantable battery system supplied sufficient current to the UPTAH for maintenance of physiological conditions in the goat with maximum rise in temperature to less than 43°C. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The prototype of the miniature vibrating flow pump (VFP) is developed for the external shunt catheter. The cross-slider mechanism is applied to vibrate the tube, which causes the pumping effect. This mechanism results in successful development of the miniature and lightweight VFP. By the use of the prototype VFP, the experiment of the basic pump performance is made in detail based on the authorized procedure in the research field of fluids engineering. The typical H -Q curve of VFP, which is the relationship between the pump head and the flow rate, can be obtained. This result suggests that the miniature VFP developed here can be expected to be used as the booster pump for the external shunt catheter in clinical applications. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Aiming to observe directly the microcirculation after total artificial heart (TAH) implantation, we performed a long-term follow-up in 2 goats using conjunctival angioscopy. A short segment of parallel arteriole and venule was photographed and analyzed on computer picture program (magnification 40×). Three main parameters were measured: arteriole diameter, venule diameter, and arteriovenous ratio (A/V ratio). The intrathoracically implanted TAH was the undulation pump total artificial heart (UPTAH) with cardiac output of 100 ml/kg/min. To stabilize the peripheral hemodynamics a 1/R biofeedback control system was used. Our results provided only elementary data about morphology of bulbar microvessels. The main finding was the tendency to general vasoconstriction, more intensive on the venous side (*P < 0.05 in one goat). We did not observe any pathological shapes (e.g., tortuosities, varicosities, or sludge); this result could be attributed to the high effectivity of 1/R control method. These preliminary results should be considered only as an attempt to apply the widely used clinical method of conjunctival angioscopy to the conditions of TAH. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The undulation pump is a unique continuous-flow displacement-type blood pump with high performance. However, the undulation pump has limited mechanical durability. To eliminate this limitation, the principle of the rotary undulation pump was developed. The rotary undulation pump is composed of a disk having a pair of convex shapes on both side and pump housing having a shape such that one side is narrow and the other side is wide. The disk nutates and at the same time rotates at half the speed of nutation. With this movement of the disk, the disk can rotate through the narrow part of the pump housing and pump mechanism occurs. Between the disk and the pump housing, four pump rooms are created. The four outputs are added at the outlet port, and continuous flow is generated. The practical shape was designed with computer graphics. The motion of the disk was calculated accurately with the computer, and the principle was confirmed. The inlet and outlet port areas were also calculated. Models were developed to demonstrate the principle. With the magnetic coupling method, up to about 6 l/min of output could be measured against 100 mmHg of pressure load, and the principle was demonstrated to work. An experimental model to study an electromagnetic drive method, including a magnetically suspended drive, is being developed for the next step. Although many objectives remain, the basic principle of the rotary undulation pump was confirmed. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

We compared the fertilizing capacity of rabbit testicular round spermatids (i) before appearance of the proacrosomal granules (stage -1), (ii) with two to three proacrosomal granules attached to the nucleus (stage -2) and (iii) with one granule attached to the nucleus (stages -3 to -5). Testicular samples were minced and observed via confocal scanning laser microscopy, which allows intracellular observation at high magnification and the subsequent identification of acrosomal granules and round spermatids. Nuclei of round spermatids of stage -1 (group A), -2 (group B), and -3 to -5 (group C) were isolated and injected into mature rabbit oocytes. At 24 and 72 h post-injection the number of cleaved oocytes and morulae/blastocysts, respectively, were significantly lower in groups A and B than group C. These results suggest that the rabbit round spermatid develops fertilizing potential after the stage at which the coalescence of the acrosomal granules occurs. [ABSTRACT FROM PUBLISHER]

The article reports on a study, which together with the analysis of Ki-67, investigates the clinicopathoiogicai and immunohistochemical features of Gastrointestinal Stromal Tumors (GIST) originating in the small intestine to find the factors that may be related to the prognosis of this illness. The subjects were 10 patients with GIST ofthe small intestine resected at our facility. Each case was examined for tumor diameter, mitotie figure, labeling index of Ki-67, pleomorphism, and V-factor. Subsequently, they were graded and the correlation between each parameter and the prognosis was investigated. The average age of the patients at the surgery and the maleto-female ratio were 59.5 years and 6:4, respectively. The average tumor diameter was 10.4 cm and 80% exhibited extra-luminal growth. An immunohistochemical examination revealed that all tumor cells were positive for c-kit and 60% were positive for CD34.