Determining arterial pressure, left atrial pressure and cardiac output from the left pneumatic drive line of the total artificial heart.

These data presented here demonstrate how careful analysis of mock loop testing can lead to useful measurements for long-term calf experiments. The accuracy of the data rae primarily dependent upon a valid circulatory system analog and good experimental technique. These methods of determining arterial pressure, left atrial pressure and cardiac output have allowed us to obtain recordds of these important parameters for periods as long as 100 days in calves with total artificial heart implantation. These methods have also enabled us to automatically control the artifical heart under conditions of rest, exercise and pharmacologic treatment with the use of only one external pneumatic drive line pressure transducer.