FLIGHT EXPERIENCE WITH THE NOVACOR LVAS

Abstract

As Novacor LVAS recipients continue to be discharged from the hospital to await cardiac transplantation, there has been an increasing number of patients that either need or desire to use air transportation. To date, two test flight experiences have been reported with the Novacor LVAS operating in a mock circulatory loop during air travel. One situation was the transport of a mock loop on a medical helicopter, and another one preceded an international flight of an LVAS recipient from Japan to the United States. In each situation, the LVAS, connected to a water-filled mock circulatory loop, was placed on the aircraft and instrumentation was checked to verify that there was no adverse effect on the Novacor equipment during flight. Novacor LVAS recipients have also been reported to have flown commercial air transports throughout Europe, in both rotary and fixed wing aircraft, without incident. Laboratory testing of electromagnetic emissions were also conducted to include specific frequencies utilized by aircraft instrumentation. These tests show that the Novacor LVAS is well below the International Special Committee on Radio Interference (CISPR 11) emissions limits; this data can be provided to an air carrier anticipating transport of a Novacor recipient. Details of the results from the mock loop field testing, as well as the laboratory testing of electromagnetic emissions pertinent to air travel, will be presented. This experience suggests that that there has been no impact on aircraft electronics from the LVAS, nor has the aircraft instrumentation generated any interference with the components of the Novacor LVAS.