Ryo Sakata

Sensorless control for a sophisticated artificial myocardial contraction by using shape memory alloy fibre

The authors have been developing an artificial myocardium, which is capable of supporting natural contractile function from the outside of the ventricle. The system was originally designed by using sophisticated covalent shape memory alloy fibres, and the surface did not implicate blood compatibility. The purpose of our study on the development of artificial myocardium was to achieve the assistance of myocardial functional reproduction by the integrative small mechanical elements without sensors, so that the effective circulatory support could be accomplished. In this study, the authors fabricated the prototype artificial myocardial assist unit composed of the sophisticated shape memory alloy fibre (Biometal), the diameter of which was 100 microns, and examined the mechanical response by using pulse width modulation (PWM) control method in each unit. Prior to the evaluation of dynamic characteristics, the relationship between strain and electric resistance and also the inditial response of each unit were obtained. The component for the PWM control was designed in order to regulate the myocardial contractile function, which consisted of an originally-designed RISC microcomputer with the input of displacement, and its output signal was controlled by pulse wave modulation method. As a result, the optimal PWM parameters were confirmed and the fibrous displacement was successfully regulated under the different heat transfer conditions simulating internal body temperature as well as bias tensile loading. Then it was indicated that this control theory might be applied for more sophisticated ventricular passive or active restraint by the artificial myocardium on physiological demand.

Morphological Approach for the Functional Improvement of an Artificial Myocardial Assist Device using Shape Memory Alloy Fibres

The authors have been developing a mechano-electric artificial myocardial assist system (artificial myocardium) which is capable of supporting natural contractile functions from the outside of the ventricle without blood contacting surface. In this study, a nano-tech covalent type shape memory alloy fibre (Biometal, Toki Corp, Japan) was employed and the parallel-link structured myocardial assist device was developed. And basic characteristics of the system were examined in a mechanical circulatory system as well as in animal experiments using goats. The contractile functions were evaluated with the mock circulatory system that simulated systemic circulation with a silicone left ventricular model and an aortic afterload. Hemodynamic performance was also examined in goats. Prior to the measurement, the artificial myocardial assist device was installed into the goats thoracic cavity and attached onto the ventricular wall. As a result, the system could be installed successfully without severe complications related to the heating, and the aortic flow rate was increased by 15% and the systolic left ventricular pressure was elevated by 7% under the cardiac output condition of 3L/min in a goat. And those values were elevated by the improvement of the design which was capable of the natural morphological myocardial tissue streamlines. Therefore it was indicated that the effective assistance might be achieved by the contraction by the newly-designed artificial myocardial assist system using Biometal. Moreover it was suggested that the assistance gain might be obtained by the optimised configuration design along with the natural anatomical myocardial stream line.

First Trial of the Chronic Animal Examination of the Artificial Myocardial Function

Thromboembolic and haemorrhagic complications are the primary causes of mortality and morbidity in patients with artificial hearts, which are known to be induced by the interactions between blood flow and artificial material surfaces. The authors have been developing a new mechanical artificial myocardial assist device by using a sophisticated shape memory alloy fibre in order to achieve the mechanical cardiac support from outside of the heart without a direct blood contacting surface. The original material employed as the actuator of artificial myocardial assist devices was 100um fibred-shaped, which was composed of covalent and metallic bonding structure and designed to generate 4–7 % shortening by Joule heating induced by the electric current input. Prior to the experiment, the myocardial streamlines were investigated by using a MDCT, and the design of artificial myocardial assist devices were refined based on the concept of Torrent-Guasp’s myocardial band theory. As the hydrodynamic or hemodynamic examination exhibited the remarkable increase of cardiac systolic work by the assistance of the artificial myocardial contraction in the originally designed mock circulatory system as well as in the acute animal experiments, the chronic animal test has been started in a goat. Total weight of the device including the actuator was around 150g, and the electric power was supplied percutaneously. The device could be successfully installed into thoracic cavity, which was able to be girdling the left ventricle. In the chronic animal trial, the complication in respect to the diastolic dysfunction by the artificial myocardial compression was not observed.

Preliminary Study on Interactive Control for the Artificial Myocardium by Shape Memory Alloy Fibre

The authors have been developing a sophisticated artificial myocardium for the treatment of heart failure, which is capable of supporting contractile function from the outside of the ventricle. The purpose of this study was to construct the control methodology of functional assistance by an artificial myocardium using small active mechanical elements composed of shape memory alloy fibres (Biometal). In order to achieve a sophisticated mechanical support by using shape memory alloy fibres, the diameter of which was 100 microns, the mechanical response of the myocardial assist device unit was examined by using PID (Proportional-Integral-Derivative) control method. Prior to the evaluation of dynamic characteristics, the relationship between strain and electric resistance of the shape memory alloy fibre and also the inditial response of each unit were obtained in the electrical bridge circuit. The component for the PID control was designed for the regulation of the myocardial contractile function. An originally-designed RISC microcomputer was employed and the input or output signals were controlled by pulse width modulation method in respect of displacement controls. Consequently, the optimal PID parameters were confirmed and the fibrous displacement was successfully regulated under the different heat transfer conditions simulating internal body temperature as well as bias tensile loading. Then it was indicated that this control methodology could be useful for more sophisticated ventricular passive or active restraint by using the artificial myocardium on physiological demand interactively.

Support Mechanism of a Newly-Designed Mechanical Artificial Myocardium using Shape Memory Alloy Fi bres

As the heart failure is caused by the decrease in the myocardial contraction, the direct mechanical myocardial assistance in response to physiological demand, that is, the synchronous support of the contractile function from outside of the heart, might be effective. The purpose of this study was to develop an artificial myocardium which was capable of supporting the cardiac contraction directly by using the shape memory alloy fibres based on nanotechnology. Some methodologies using novel devices other than the artificial hearts are proposed so far with severe heart disease. However, it was also anticipated that the decrease in cardiac functions owing to the diastolic disability might be caused by using those ‘static’ devices. Then, this study was focused on an artificial myocardium using shape memory alloy fibres with a diameter of 100 – 150 um, and the authors examined its mechanism in a mock circulatory system as well as in animal experiments using goats. Basic characteristics of the material were evaluated prior to the hydrodynamic or hemodynamic examination using a mock ventricular model. The results were as follows: a) The length of the structure was able to be adjusted so that the system could wrap the whole heart effectively. b) In the hydrodynamic study using the mock circulatory system, the myocardial system was able to pump a flow against the afterload of arterial pressure level. c) In the animal experiments, aortic pressure and flow rate were elevated by 7 and 15% respectively by the mechanical assistance of the artificial myocardium, which was driven synchronising with the electrocardiogram, and also, d) The anatomically-identical shape of the artificial myocardium might be more effective for the assistance. In conclusion, it was indicated that this controllable artificial myocardial support system was effective for the mechanical cardiac support for the chronic heart failure.

Preliminary Study on the functional reproduction of an Artificial Myocardium using Covalent Shape Memory Alloy Fibre Based on Control Engineering

The authors have been developing an artificial myocardium using a sophisticated covalent shape memory alloy fibre, which is capable of assisting natural cardiac contraction from the outside of the ventricular wall. We applied engineering method based on robotics control and constructed the artificial myocardial assist system which might be able to regulate derangement and regenerative tensile force on the surface of heart. In this study, a design to surround the total heart has been established in order to refrain from the stress concentration by the mechanical assistance, and the hemodynamic performance of the artificial myocardial assist system were examined in a mock circulatory system as well as on animal experiments using goats. Basic characteristics of the shape memory alloy fibre unit were examined and the displacement control could be achieved under the condition of the different external temperature by feedback using the PID control. And also the increase of the external work of the goats left ventricular pressure-volume relationship were obtained by the assistance using an artificial myocardium with parallel-linked configuration, and therefore it was indicated that the effective ventricular mechanical support could be performed by the device