Additive Manufacturing for VADs and TAHs - a Review

Abstract

Abstract Heart disease or Advanced/Congestive Heart Failure (CHF) is one of the serious causes of death. Due to availability of low volumes of donor hearts, there has been an ongoing development of Mechanical Circulatory Support (MCS): Ventricular Assist Devices (VADs) and total heart replacement by Total Artificial Hearts (TAHs) for over 60 years. MCS systems had seen three phases of advancement. The first generation were largely mechanical devices and had pulsatility in their action, but were highly cumbersome, unreliable due to fatigue cracks and required an external pneumatic power and control. Smaller and continuous flow devices are the second generation MCS devices. Because of compact sizing they were suitable for implantations and were more durable than the first generation devices. Problems like pump thrombosis drove the development of motors with levitating or hydrodynamic rotors, leading to the development of third generation devices. Manufacturing of these electromagnetic devices for implantation has to adhere to the constraints of compatibility, space and weight. With the advent of new biomaterials, additive manufacturing is reportedly playing a significant role. Additive manufacturing reported for electromagnetic and electronic components had yielded considerably good performance. This paper reviews materials in electrical and electronics and also in bio medical sector suitable for Additive Manufacturing. An attempt is made to identify the materials that may be suitable for VADs and TAHs and the challenges to use AM techniques that complement each other to create next generation integrated-VADs and integrated-TAHs.