Single module, tets and telemetry operated hermetically sealed controller for the Jarvik 2000 heart totally implantable system (J2000-TI)

A single module, TETS and telemetry operated, hemetically sealed controller compatible with the dual coil Jarvik 2000 intraventricular axial flow rotary blood pump has been designed, fabricated, tested in vitro, and implanted in a 74-kg calf at the Texas Heart Institute (ongoing at 65 days). The purpose of this paper is to describe the design philosophy, fabrication techniques relevant to the pacemaker-style packaging concepts and bench testing results leading up to this first in vivo implant. Included within the single module are microprocessor based electronics (with manual and automatic modes) and internal batteries (3 X prismatic C cells, 1.4 AH) provided by Wilson Greatbatch (WG) LTD. The electronics includes main (M) and backup (BU) motor controllers, M and BU TETS power conditioners, an RF telemetry link, battery charging circuitry, and appropriate sensors. These are packaged within a hermetically sealed titanium can using WG - Hittman feedthroughs embedded in an epoxy, pacemaker-style header (MedSource) designed to accept a unipolar ECG lead, two triaxial connectors (M and BU stators), and two biaxial connectors (M and BU TETS). External to the body are a TETS oscillator, primary coil, 4 X D li-ion battery pack and power supply. Pre-operative submerged saline testing demonstrated system efficiencies of 6-8% depending on load and internal temperatures of 47-50°C.