Miniature Stirling engines for artificial heart power

Conference · Mon Aug 01 00:00:00 EDT 1983 · Proc., Intersoc. Energy Convers. Eng. Conf.; (United States)

OSTI ID:5486368

White, M A

A national effort to develop a fully implantable artificial heart has included thermal power sources since 1967. Two of seven artificial heart thermal converter programs funded by the National Institutes of Health (NIH) and/or the Department of Energy (DOE) remain active. The technical requirements for an implantable engine with a ten year maintenance-free operating life represent perhaps the most demanding application ever considered for Stirling engines. Existing hardware versions of engines from the two continuing programs have recorded impressive performance and lifetime data. Pending versions are expected to meet all the stringent operating requirements and eventually be qualified for use in humans. The artificial heart thermal power source program provides a unique forum for meaningful comparison of innovative and conventional Stirling engine concepts in an arena of professionally executed advanced technology programs which in aggregate represent more than forty million dollars in developmental funding.

• Research Organization: University of Washington, Joint Center for Graduate Study, Richland, WA
• OSTI ID: 5486368
• Report Number(s): CONF-830812-
• Journal Information: Proc., Intersoc. Energy Convers. Eng. Conf.; (United States), Vol. 2; Conference: 18. intersociety energy conversion engineering conference, Orlando, FL, USA, 21 Aug 1983
• Country of Publication: United States
• Language: English

Related Subjects

33 ADVANCED PROPULSION SYSTEMS
62 RADIOLOGY AND NUCLEAR MEDICINE
MECHANICAL HEART
POWER SUPPLIES
STIRLING ENGINES
PERFORMANCE
SERVICE LIFE
ARTIFICIAL ORGANS
MAN
RESEARCH PROGRAMS
TECHNOLOGY UTILIZATION
US DOE
ANIMALS
ELECTRONIC EQUIPMENT
ENGINES
EQUIPMENT
HEAT ENGINES
MAMMALS
MEDICAL SUPPLIES
NATIONAL ORGANIZATIONS
PRIMATES
PROSTHESES
US ORGANIZATIONS
VERTEBRATES
330201* - External Combustion Engines- Stirling Cycle
550600 - Medicine