AVK-N - a portable circulatory assist device
AVK-N project is a joint effort of
- BIOSOFT-M LLC
- ZITC JSC
- FSBI βAcademician V.I.Shumakov Federal Research Center of Transplantology and Artificial Organsβ
- DONA-M LLC
AVK-N completely or partially replaces the ventricular functions in acute heart failure patients.
- Ease of operation;
- Exceptional reliability;
- Mobility;
- Ergonomics;
- Minimal level of hemolysis and thrombus formation;
- Antithrombogenous coating of all the internal pump surfaces;
- Continuous system state monitoring with logging into the built-in memory;
- Automatic and manual control modes;
- Specialized software to control the pump and to store, visualize and process the system parameters;
- Remote system state monitoring with a geolocation function (GPS, GLONASS).
- Weight of external components - 1.5 kg;
- Weight of implanted components - 250 g;
- Autonomous battery operation - up to 14 hours;
- Pump rotor rotation speed - 5000-10000 rpm;
- Blood flowrate - 3-7 l/min;
- Power consumption under nominal conditions - 12 W.
A surgery to implant an artificial circulatory support system (portable circulatory assist device, AVK-N) was first carried out on March 12, 2014 in N.V. Sklifosovsky Federal Research Institute of Emergency Medicine. This operation saved the life of 61-year-old patient who had a severe form of cardiomyopathy - a failure of the left ventricle.
Prior to surgery Vladimir suffered three heart attacks, almost could not walk due to suffocation. Also severe shortness of breath and sleep disturbances were present and the capabilities of traditional treatments have been exhausted. "I had very strong pain in my heart and felt dizziness. I could not sleep, felt very bad," - says Vladimir.
During the surgery a miniature pump was implanted in patient's chest, replacing the left ventricular function. As a result of the operation, normal blood circulation in the body was restored, severe symptoms passed, the patient returned to normal life and was discharged home after a short recovery period.
The unique operation was conducted by a transplant surgeon Director of N.V. Sklifosovsky Federal Research Institute of Emergency Medicine M.S. Khubutia with assistance of a cardiac surgeon S.U. Shemakin - the leading research scientist in the Department of Emergency Cardiosurgery at the same Institute.
This kind of surgery is the only hope for relief for thousands of people who, due to circumstances, cannot have a heart transplant, enhances the quality of life for patients awaiting a donor organ and in some cases creates conditions for the restoration of the left ventricular function.