AbioCor Artificial HeartMichael Congdon
BME-18111 February 2013
Coronary Heart Disease Leading cause of death in the U.S. for men and Women
Plague build up on walls of coronary arteries
Resulting build up leads to a clot and ultimately a heart attack
AbioCor Product of 30 years of research, development and testing.
Created by Abiomed
Designed to sustain body’s circulatory system in patients who would otherwise die of a heart failure
Totally implantable
Patients not tethered to an external pump nor have wires piercing the skin
The Similarities
Internal Components Thoracic unit: (the pump) consists
of artificial ventricles and valves, motor-driven hydraulic pumping system.
Pump motor rotates at 4000-8000 revolutions per minute, supplying the pressure to pump blood through the body
Internal Components cont. Internal rechargeable battery: an emergency battery that is continually
charged by the external power source. Provides up to 20 minutes of operation while disconnected from the main battery pack
Electronics package: implanted in the patients abdominal area. Monitors and controls the pumping speed of the artificial heart
External Components Normally powered by an external console of battery packs
Internal battery powers pump only when external power is disconnected
Power into the body is achieved with an energy-transfer device called a transcutaneous energy transmission (TET) system.
Consists of internal and external coils used to send power across the skin without actually penetrating it.
Results As of September 2004, there were 14 patients already
implanted with AbioCor
Studies show device proven to be safe in all cases
Greatest benefit occurs in patients with severe heart failure and immanent death
First person ever to receive AbioCor lived for 151 days after the transplant
Reflection AbioCor is one of the most innovative pieces of Biomedical
technology out there
Since use has help save/prolong many lives
Landmark of cardiovascular technology
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"Abiomed." AbioCor. N.p., n.d. Web. 17 Feb. 2013.
Board, A.D.A.M. Editorial. Coronary Heart Disease. U.S. National Library of Medicine, 18 Jan. 0001. Web. 17 Feb. 2013.
"AbioCor." Wikipedia. Wikimedia Foundation, 14 Feb. 2013. Web. 17 Feb. 2013.
"AbioCor Implantable Replacement Heart - Texas Heart Institute - Heart Assist Devices." AbioCor Implantable Replacement Heart - Texas Heart Institute - Heart Assist Devices. N.p., n.d. Web. 17 Feb. 2013.