Performance Evaluation of a Linear Pulse Motor-Driven Intra-Aortic Balloon Pump

An intra-aortic balloon pump (IABP) is an effective device for supporting circulation in the event of acute heart failure. Small IABP devices are in urgent demand in medical fields. The authors have investigated an IABP device which uses a linear pulse motor (LPM) in order to reduce the device size. This paper discusses the characteristics of the LPM developed by the authors to drive the IABP, and describes the results of evaluation of an LPM-driven IABP. Our investigation revealed the following. (1) The trial LPM was 1.3 L in volume and had a mass of 6.3 kg. Its use will reduce the weight of IABP devices. (2) The LPM has a high thrust/volume ratio of 0.88 N/ml. (3) The driving characteristic of the LPM-driven IABP was evaluated using a mock testing device. The maximum pumping rate of this IABP device is approximately 120 beats/min. As a result, an LPM-driven IABP will be capable of sufficiently high performance to enable clinical use.