TY - JOUR T1 - In Vitro PET Imaging of a Miniature Ventricular Assist Device JF - Journal of Nuclear Medicine Technology JO - J. Nucl. Med. Technol. SP - 190 LP - 194 DO - 10.2967/jnmt.116.175885 VL - 44 IS - 3 AU - Michael S. Gossman AU - Joel D. Graham AU - Stephen Depot AU - Huaiyu Zheng AU - Junling Li AU - Chin K. Ng AU - Daniel Tamez Y1 - 2016/09/01 UR - http://tech.snmjournals.org/content/44/3/190.abstract N2 - Interactions between the life-sustaining ventricular assist devices and diagnostic therapies must be carefully considered to decrease the risk of inaccurate diagnostic imaging or pump failure. Methods: The MVAD® pump, currently under investigational use, was tested for interaction with radiotracers in an in vitro flow-loop study. The radiotracers 18F-sodium fluoride and 18F-FDG were injected into a closed loop to determine the feasibility of direct imaging of the MVAD® pump in a PET scanner. Results: No real-time changes were observed in pump operation, and there were no statistical differences in pump parameters (power consumption, speed, and estimated flow rate) between the baseline and circulation conditions. In addition, no effect was observed on any external components, including the permissive-action-link controller and the batteries powering the device. Imaging of the internal pump components was possible, with obscuration observed only in the portion of the pump where the spinning impeller is located. Retention of radiotracer in the pump components after circulation was minimal (<1%). Conclusion: PET imaging is an attractive diagnostic tool for patients with a ventricular assist device and may have additional utility outside its current use, detection of infection. ER -