Fukumasu H

Aortopulmonary window, aortic origin of the right pulmonary artery, and interrupted aortic arch: Detection by two-dimensional and color Doppler echocardiography in an infant

Aortopulmonary (AP) window [6, 10] aortic origin of the right pulmonary artery (RPA) [10], and interruption of the aortic arch [3) are each uncommon malformations . Their coexistence provides a complex that is a rare diagnostic challenge . We here report on an infant who had a combination of all these cardiovascular defects, presenting With cyanosis and congestive heart failure . The use of two-dimensional echocardiography (2DE) in the detection of AP window has been previously described (5, 9, 11] as has been that of anomalous origin of the RPA from the ascending aorta [4, 5, 11]. In our case 2DE detected both the AP window and the aortic origin of the RPA . We also describe the clinical value of the new two-dimensional color Doppler echocardiography (2D color Doppler), as developed by Omoto and associates [7], for the noninvasive visualization of shunting across the aortopulmonary window, in lieu of cineangiography .

Development of nutating centrifugal blood pump

Conventional centrifugal blood pumps have drawbacks: blood degeneration at hot spots in the bearing in closed magnetic coupling drive and infection and contamination through the shaft seal in direct motor drive. To overcome these problems, Baurmeister and Affeld proposed and developed a centrifugal pump with a.nutating (non rotating) impeller, the so-called tea spoon pump. However, a great reduction in hydrolysis is necessary with this pump. Pump performance, therefore, had to be improved. This was done by the following: (a) annular flow passage surrounded with an inner guide wall and outer housing wall; (b) contoured inlet and outlet passage. These amendments serve to achieve rectified flow in the same manner as a piston (impeller) pushing blood in an endless cylinder (annular passage). Centrifugal force as a result of rotating blood flow sustains the pressure difference between the outlet and inlet.