Current left ventricular assist device

Left ventricular assist devices (LVADs) have confident in treatment for end-stage heart failure. The mainly development of LVADs design based on a rotary blood pump (RBP) technology for both long-term and short-term supports. The first generation of LVADs was the pulsatile system based on volume displacement technology. For the second generation of LVADs, novel LVADs were developed to be a non-pulsatile system that was called continuous flow LVADs. Normally, this system can generate low pulsatile-pressure during high support ratio. Continuous flow LVADs can apply for other advance application. In comparison with the first generation LVADs, second generation devices show more advantageous than pulsatile pumps such as speed, size and sound. To verify of pump safety, the generally of certification for LVADs should be evaluate by United State of America -Food and Drug Administration (US-FDA) or Conformite Europeenne mark (CE mark) approval. Jarvik-2000, HeartMate II, Synergy and HeartWare are the commercial products which have been certified by both US-FDA and CE mark. Exception for the Incor LVAD, it applied for CE mark only. In this review, the difference of each manufacturer (shape, size, type of flow and type of bearing) were explained.