Langendorff & working Heart

Basic system

The basic system includes the following:

• A mainframe: a heart chamber with a heat exchanger, electrovalves, various ports for bolus injection and catheter, and numerous pods for extra attachment (ECG or stimulation electrodes). A Heating jacket is included into the mouse system (in option for rats).
• A heating system: thermostat-controlled heater-pumps providing water heated to 37±0.5°C to maintain the isolated heart at a constant temperature and warm perfusion liquid.
• A perfusion system to provide oxygen and nutrients to the isolated heart at constant pressure or constant flow: reservoirs, pressure/flow regulator (this regulates pressure or flown and provides signals for flow and pressure too), peristaltic pumps, perfusion cannulas, pressure transducers and perfusion heads (two bubble trap sizes for rat and mouse).
• An acquisition system: computer with acquisition software, an amplifier and USB cable.

Extension

Additional transducers may be used to record:

• Perfusate temperature
• Perfusate flow rate (in working heart mode only)
• Electrocardiogram (ECG) by applying contact electrodes to the heart’s surface.

Heating jacket: can be inserted inside the rat heart chamber, to maintain the heart temperature (already included in the mouse system). It includes double-walled glass chamber and plastic parts.