Pneumatic intracardiac-catheder-pump with high-performance ceramics

Currently available heart pumps use an electrical power unit (stimulus) which leads to heat development causing possible damage of blood corpuscles.

Projekt Assistocor (TU Vienna, MedUni Vienna):

• Manufacturing of a mechanical heart pump with a helium gas power unit
• Hermetic decoupling of power unit and pump part
• Significant increase of pump capacity of the heart
• Temporary, (post-operative) pump assistance of the heart after surgery
• Combination with intra-aortal balloon pump for optimized blood supply of coronary vessels possible

Challenges:

• Small and highly complex geometric shapes only possible with huge effort
• Biocompatible materials with matching mechanical properties necessary
• High initial costs due to design variations during prototype production/phase

Solution:

• Production of complex components of the heart pump with LCM-technology by Lithoz
• Material: Aluminium oxide

Benefits:

• Small and highly complex geometric shapes can be easily manufactured with the CeraFab 7500
• Cost efficient prototyping through tool-free manufacturing in parallel production (more than 10 design variations)
• Aluminium oxide features good biocompatibility and suitable mechanical properties for complex and small parts

Summary of Ao. Professor Dr. Margit Gföhler:

“The 3D-Priniting technology for aluminium oxide developed by Lithoz enabled us to implement a cost-effective prototyping process for such a highly complex medical product. Aluminium oxide is a perfect fit for miniature parts due to its biocompatibility and mechanical properties.”