Preliminary Experimental Analysis of Noninvasive Pressure Monitoring in Extracorporeal Circulation Circuit Based on Roller Pump

This paper analyzes a method for noninvasive pressure measurement in an extracorporeal circulation circuit (ECC) based on a roller pump widely used in open-heart surgery. The proposed set-up utilizes a linear variable displacement transducer to detect delivery tube displacements from pressure variation. The main advantage of the proposed method is that the usual ECC circuit remains unchanged. The system is metrologically analyzed with the following tests: (1) static and dynamic calibration tests; (2) zero-shift test; and (3) tests for evaluating temperature-induced effects. Results show that the proposed method allows monitoring the actual setting and working conditions of the ECC components.