emka TECHNOLOGIES isolated heart system for ecg studies in preclinical research

isolated heart system benchtop mainframe

isolated heart system benchtop mainframe

The mainframe is a benchtop structure with several parts, notably:

• heart chamber
• heat exchangers - perfusate is heated up as it passes through
• perfusion heads - one (LH) or two (WH) perfusion heads are present. They are connected to the heart itself by cannula(s).
• electrovalves - their opening/closing is controlled by the flow/pressure regulator.

heater/pump

heater/pump

The heater/pump unit consists of a thermostat heater, a pump and a 4-litre bath of water (or other liquid) that is maintained at a constant temperature.

The pump of the heater/pump unit circulates the water through a closed circuit running between the water bath and the mainframe. As water passes through the passages in the mainframe, it transfers thermal energy to its surroundings. Inside the heat exchangers, thermal energy is transferred to the perfusate.

flow/pressure regulator

flow/pressure regulator

The flow/pressure regulator allows you to:

• regulate flow or pressure in the Langendorff configuration
• regulate pressure in the working heart configuration
• switch between different physiological solutions at the touch of a button
• switch between different operating modes at the touch of a button (constant flow and constant pressure modes for Langendorff heart ; post-charge mode for working heart).

The last feature is particularly useful in working heart experiments: the heart is prepared in constant flow mode, then, once the cannulas are in place, you can switch to the post-charge mode.

The flow/pressure regulator achieves these effects by adjusting the rate of rotation of peristaltic pumps and opening/closing electrovalves.