The hemolysis test of the Gyro C1E3 pump in pulsatile mode.

While a centrifugal pump is generally used for nonpulsatile blood flow, it can also produce a pulsatile flow by alternating the impeller rotational speed (rpm) periodically. However, there is a concern that this centrifugal pump pulsatile mode may induce added hemolysis as a result of the repeated acceleration and deceleration of rpm. Thus, a hemolysis study of the pulsatile modes of the Gyro C1E3 centrifugal pump (Gyro-P) was conducted. The results were then compared with the nonpulsatile mode of the same pump (Gyro-N) and the nonpulsatile BioMedicus BP-80 (Bio-N) pump. Three different conditions were simulated: left ventricular assist device (LVAD), cardiopulmonary bypass (CPB), and percutaneous cardiopulmonary support (PCPS). The beating rate of the Gyro-P was set at 40 bpm, with repetition of two different impeller speed (the lower being 70% of the higher speed). The 2 impeller speeds were set to obtain the same average flow as that of the nonpulsatile mode. The hemolysis results of the Gyro-P were comparable to or better than those of Bio-N, and no excessive hemolysis was observed, compared to the Gyro-N. In conclusion, The Gyro-P had an excellent hemolytic characteristic and generated no excessive hemolysis in most clinical usage conditions. With the concern of hemolysis eliminated, this pulsatile mode may have various possible mode advantages.