File:Standardised testing of VAD pumps.png

Schematic showing how a standarised test can be created for ventricular assist devices (VAD's) for companies that make VAD's to do. A test that is performed by each VAD manufacturer in the same way could help to increase development of VAD's. At present, blood clotting is still an issue, and requires the patient to take anticoagulants (and in extreme circumstances, may require the patient to have the VAD replaced by an organic heart). The industry is however attempting to improve the design of VAD's so that these anticoagulants no longer need to be taken at all. To do so, the design of the pump (and the diameters of the prosthetic arteries/blood vessels) itself is being looked at (by trying to reduce erosion of the blood -1-), as well as the materials of which these pumps and blood vessels are made (2).

The test can be conducted several times, to increase the quality and accuracy of the results:

• it can be performed once with controller attached, and once without the controller (directly from the battery)
• it can be performed once with blood from blood bag labelled A, and once with blood from a blood bag labelled B

The testing of the pump (pump activation) should start immediately when the blood has been warmed up to 37°C.

Once the test is done, a paper should be made by the companies in which they mention:

• how long it took before the blood became clotted
• how long one of the pumps was able to operate before it broke down (and what other parts broke down after what period of time)

References:
1: Dacron blood vessels can cause blood clotting, especially when the blood vessels are small in diameter
2: Materials used for making blood vessels