Establishment of Cardiac Perfusion System using Personal Computer for in vitro Electrophysiologic Study

ABSTRACT

PURPOSE: After Langendorff made aortic perfusion system with the extracted animal heart for the experimental study regarding cardiac mechanical action and rhythm, this system has been modified by various methods for the hemodynamic studies. The authors developed cardiac perfusion system using personal computer for mechanical cardiac contraction and electrophysiologic studies without the effects of autonomic nervous system and hemodynamic influences from various causes. METHODS: This system consisted of perfusion system, electrical pulse generator, and data acquisition system. the perfusion system has reservoir containing physiologic solution, heat exchange system, and organ chamber. The pulse generator composed of personal computer and digital/analog converter can produce electrical pulses with adjustable amplitude and cycle length. The mode of stimulations were as follows; maintenance, programmed, and burst mode. The data acquisition system was composed of amplifier, analog/digital converter, and AcqKnowledge program that are provided by Biopac system. The data were sampled at 1kHz as a digitized form, and the noises wee reduced by filtering at band width 30-500Hz. Krebs' solution was used as perfusate through the aorta of isolated heart with mean pressure of 40mmHg. RESULTS: With this system, AH and HV interval, refractory period of AV node and His-Purkinje system, and Wenckebach cycle length were measured. CONCLUSION: Studies for cardiac mechanical contraction as well as electrophysiologic properties in vitro with or without specific cardiac drugs would be possible with this system in isolated experimental heart without autonomic nervous effects.