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Overview of Isolated Heart Perfusion Systems: Langendorff, Working Heart and Biventricular Working Heart Perfusions

For two decades the Hugo Sachs Elektronik IH-Series of Isolated Heart Systems has been the gold standard for cardiac physiology measurements in both Langendorff and Working Ejecting Heart perfusion modes.

Unique Perfusion Technology

What makes the IH-Series unique is the revolutionary Perspex construction which simply cannot be matched. The use of Perspex instead of traditional glass allows our engineers to mill the perfusion pathway directly into the solid Perspex blocks. The result is what we call a Solid State Physiological Perfusion Circuit. This patented perfusion technology ensures a precisely repeatable non-turbulent perfusion pathway for the highest fidelity pressure and flow measurement. This, combined with the naturally excellent thermal properties of Perspex, creates a system that allows control, maintenance and monitoring of circulatory parameters in a way that is more physiologically relevant than any conventional perfusion system.

The Langendorff System

The IH-Series Ex Vivo Perfused Heart Systems always start as a Langendorff system. This means a configuration solely for retrograde perfusion down the aorta (toward the heart). In this mode, the aortic valve prevents the perfusate (nutrient solution) from entering the left ventricle, but the coronary arteries are perfused via the coronary ostia which are located just above the valve, thus maintaining the viability of the heart muscle. Perfusate drains as effluate from the coronary circulation via the coronary sinus and pulmonary artery tends to drip from the apex of the heart making it easily available for collection. The IH system configured in this way provides an excellent platform for basic applications such as cardiomyocyte isolation as well as for physiological monitoring using the robust Langendorff assay whereperfusions of several hours are typical.

 

The Working Ejecting Heart System

The modular nature of the IH-Series allows for initial integration or later upgrade with the Working Heart (also known as Ejecting Heart) perfusion pathway. This enables orthograde perfusion: entering the left atrium, flowing through the left ventricle and exiting the aorta. In this way, a more physiological assay of ventricular contractility is possible as the left ventricle is now fully-ejecting and performing pressure-volume and acceleration work. In order to fully exploit this advantage, the IH-Series includes a specialized pathway which easily allows introduction of a Pressure (LVP) or Pressure Volume (LV-PV) catheter directly into the left ventricle via the aorta, rather than via apical puncture.

The Biventricular Working Heart system  allows for ex vivo studies of diseases characterized by pulmonary vascular dysfunction and right heart pathophysiology. The system employs unique flow resistance and compliance chambers to faithfully mimic the in vivo cardiac preloads and afterloads for both normal and diseased states. In addition to the ejecting left heart, which is now supplying perfusate to the coronaries and thus maintaining heart muscle viability, the right heart is also performing the low pressure ejection, whereby the perfusate enters the right atrium, flows into the right ventricle and exits through the pulmonary artery. Additional measurements of Right Ventricular Pressure (RVP) or Right Ventricular Pressure-Volume (RV-PV) can now be taken independently or simultaneously with LVP/LV-PV.

Cardiac Physiology Workstation

In either configuration, the IH-Series can be outfitted as a complete Cardiac Physiology Workstation with a range of measurement devices, signal conditioning equipment, and acquisition & analysis software to provide a superior solution for virtually any study.


To get started, select the basic system for your species model then add specific options to suit the particular needs of your study. To ensure that your system is properly configured as a functional unit that meets your application needs, contact your local account executive, email sales@harvardapparatus.comor call 800-597-0580

Our expert technical team of scientists and engineers is always ready to assist with system configuration, application support, and custom design requests.

Langendorff and Working Heart illustrations are used with permission courtesy of SANOFI-AVENTIS, Germany.

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