ARTIFICIAL HEART

VISVESVARAYA TECHNOLOGICAL UNIVERSITY

BELGAUM, KARNATAKA, INDIA

A TECHNICAL SEMINAR REPORT

ON

ARTIFICIAL HEART

A report submitted in the partial fulfilment of the requirements for the award of the degree of

Bachelor of Engineering

In

Electronics and Communication

Submitted by

POOJA H S.
(1BJ07EC061)

DEPARTMENT OF ELECTRONICS AND COMMUNICATION

SRI BHAGAWAN MAHAVEER JAIN COLLEGE OF ENGINEERING

2011

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SRI BHAGAWAN MAHAVEER JAIN COLLEGE OF

ENGINEERING
Jakkasandra Post, Kanakapura Taluk, Ramanagara District

Karnataka – 562112
(AFFILIATED TO VISVESVARAYA TECHNOLOGICAL UNIVERSITY, BELGAUM)

Department of Electronics and Communication

CERTIFICATE
Certified that the technical seminar entitled Artificial Heart is a bonafide work
carried out by Ms. Pooja H S. (1BJ07EC061) student of 8th semester,
department of Electronics and Communication carried out at our college, Sri
Bhagawan Mahaveer Jain College of Engineering (Bangalore) in the partial
fulfilment of the requirements for the award of Bachelor of Engineering in
Electronics and Communication of the Visvesvaraya Technological
University, Belgaum during the year 2011. It is certified that all
corrections/suggestions indicated for internal assessments have been
incorporated in the Report deposited in the departmental library. The technical
seminar report has been approved as it satisfies the academic requirements in
respect of Seminar work prescribed for the said Degree.

________________ ________________
Signature of Student Signature of Seminar
POOJA H S. Incharge
Dept. Of E&C, SBMJCE Dept. Of E&C, SBMJCE

______________________
Signatue of the HOD
Prof. Anandthirtha. B. Gudi

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CONTENTS

1. Abstract......................................................................................... 1

2. Introduction.................................................................................. 2

3. Structure of heart......................................................................... 3

3.1 Working of heart ….......................................................... 8

3.2 Blood flow through the heart.......................................... 9

4. Diseases of heart......................................................................... 10

4.1 Coronory heart disease and congestive heart failure.. 11

5. Artificial heart development...................................................... 12

6. Abiocor artificial hearts............................................................ 15

6.1 Implanted Battery…………………………………..... 16

6.2 Implemented controller……………………………… 18

6.3 Implemented TET……………………………………. 19

6.4 External parts of the AbioCor system………………. 20

6.5 Console………………………………………………... 21

6.6 External TET………………………………………..... 22

6.7 Patient-carried electronics…………………………... 23
6.8 PCE battery bag……………………………………… 24

6.9 PCE control module…………………………………. 25

6.10 PCE batteries………………………………………... 26

7. Conclusion ................................................................................. 27

8. Bibliography.............................................................................. 28

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1. ABSTRACT

Heart disease currently affects more than 100 million people around the World
Some of these diagnosed cases are so severe that patients may not survive the
wait for a donor heart. Biomedical scientists and engineers have developed
devices such as defibrillators, pacemakers, and artificial hearts to keep patients
alive until a donor heart becomes available. Artificial hearts prove to become
the most effective choice for severely ill patients. In 1995, 2400 heart transplants
were performed while 4000 patients awaited donor hearts; 731 of these patients
died waiting. With the number of patients suffering from severe heart disease
increasing and the number of donor hearts remaining constant, an immediate need
exists for the advancement of artificial hearts. Artificial hearts provide a viable
option for patient awaiting heart transplantation. Future developments on artificial
hearts have the hope of eliminating the need for the transplantation completely.

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2. INTRODUCTION

Artificial hearts have been around since the early 1980s. TheJarvik-7
became the first permanent artificial heart in 1982. The patient implanted
with the device lived for 112 days on the artificial organ. Patient was unable
to leave his bed and was in severe pain until his death. Human life could be prolonged
by artificial means, but patients still had to suffer after implantation. At this time,
the risks, such as sub-standard quality of life, outweighed future benefits of
artificial heart technology and all research was put off until positive results could
be expected. After many technological Developments in materials science as well as
pharmaceuticals, artificial heart technology is once more in the spotlight. The
Complete Artificial Implantable Heart and the Ventricular assist device provide a
mobile option for severely ill cardiac patients.

To completely understand the design development of the device, it is imperative to

know the functions and diseases of the human heart .The heart is the most important organ in
the human body .Even if a patient is considered brain dead, the patient is still considered alive
until the heart stops beating .Though it serves such an essential role the mechanisms behind
the human heart are relatively simple. The heart is pump that works based on positive
displacement. Positive displacement refers to a change in volume within a chamber due to the
movement of fluid across its boundaries. From this volume change, pressure differences arise
that drive the blood pumping process.

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3. STRUCTURE OF HEART

The heart shown is only a rough representation of the actual structure of the heart.
Your heart is actually shaped more like an upside-down pear.

Fig 3.1 Structure of heart

The human heart is primarily a shell. There are four cavities, or open spaces, inside
the heart that fill with blood. Two of these cavities are called atria. The other two are called
ventricles. The two atria form the curved top of the heart. The ventricles meet at the bottom of
the heart to form a pointed base which points toward the left side of your chest. The left
ventricle contracts most forcefully, so you can best feel your heart pumping on the left side of
your chest as shown in figure 3.1.

The left side of the heart houses one atrium and one ventricle. The right side of the
heart houses the others. A wall, called the septum, separates the right and left sides of the
heart. A valve connects each atrium to the ventricle below it. The mitral valve connects the
left atrium with the left ventricle. The tricuspid valve connects the right atrium with the right
ventricle.

The top of the heart connects to a few large blood vessels. The largest of these is the
aorta, or main artery, which carries nutrient-rich blood away from the heart. Another
important vessel is the pulmonary artery which connects the heart with the lungs as part of the
pulmonary circulation system. The two largest veins that carry blood into the heart are the
superior vena cava and the inferior vena cava. They are called "vena cava" because they are

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the "heart's veins." The superior is located near the top of the heart. The inferior is located
beneath the superior.

The heart's structure makes it an efficient, never-ceasing pump. From the moment of
development through the moment of death, the heart pumps. The heart, therefore, has to be
strong. The average heart's muscle, called cardiac muscle, contracts and relaxes about 70 to
80 times per minute without you ever having to think about it. As the cardiac muscle
contracts it pushes blood through the chambers and into the vessels. Nerves connected to the
heart regulate the speed with which the muscle contracts. When you run, your heart pumps
more quickly. When you sleep, your heart pumps more slowly.

Considering how much work it has to do, the heart is surprisingly small. The average
adult heart is about the size of a clenched fist and weighs about 11 ounces (310 grams).
Located in the middle of the chest behind the breastbone, between the lungs, the heart rests in
a moistened chamber called the pericardial cavity which is surrounded by the ribcage. The
diaphragm, a tough layer of muscle, lies below. As a result, the heart is well protected.

In a general sense, a vessel is defined as a hollow utensil for carrying something: a

cup, a bucket, a tube. Blood vessels, then, are hollow utensils for carrying blood. Located
throughout your body, your blood vessels are hollow tubes that circulate your blood.

There are three varieties of blood vessels: arteries, veins and capillaries. During blood
circulation, the arteries carry blood away from the heart. The capillaries connect the arteries
to veins. Finally, the veins carry the blood back to the heart.

If you took all of the blood vessels out of an average child, and laid them out in one
line, the line would be over 60,000 miles long! An adult's vessels would be closer to 100,000
miles long!

Besides circulating blood, the blood vessels provide two important means of
measuring vital health statistics: pulse and blood pressure. We measure heart rate, or pulse, by
touching an artery. The rhythmic contraction of the artery keeps pace with the beat of the
heart. Since an artery is near the surface of the skin, while the heart is deeply protected, we
can easily touch the artery and get an accurate measure of the heart's pulse.

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When we measure blood pressure, we use the blood flowing through the arteries
because it has a higher pressure than the blood in the veins. Your blood pressure is measured
using two numbers. The first number, which is higher, is taken when the heart beats during
the systole phase. The second number is taken when the heart relaxes during the diastole
phase. Those two numbers stand for millimeters. A column of mercury rises and falls with the
beat of the heart. The height of the column is measured in millimeters. Normal blood pressure
ranges from 110 to 150 millimeters (as the heart beats) over 60 to 80 millimeters (as the heart
relaxes). It is normal for your blood pressure to increase when you are exercising and to
decrease when you are sleeping. If your blood pressure stays too high or too low, however,
you may be at risk of heart disease.

3.1 HOW DOES THE HEART WORK

The heart is actually a muscle that works like a pump in distributing blood throughout
the body. The heart has four chambers. The two at the top are the left and right atria and the
two at the bottom are the left and right ventricles. Blood vessels lead in and out of these
chambers.

Oxygenated blood from the lungs flows into your heart and is then pumped out to the
rest of your body. Once the blood has delivered the oxygen to the tissues of the body, it
returns to your heart and gets pumped back out to the lungs where it will be re-oxygenated.

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3.2 Blood flow through the heart

Our heart muscle is a very efficient pump that delivers blood, oxygen and nutrients to your
body.

The heart has four chambers - two on the right and two on the left. Both sides of the heart work
together. The right side pumps blood into the lungs and the left side pumps blood into the
organs and tissues of your body.

After your blood flows through the body, its life-giving oxygen and nutrients have been
depleted. To replenish the oxygen and revitalize the blood, it must pass through the heart and
then into the lungs again.

Right side: First the oxygen-depleted blood enters the heart through two large veins, the
inferior and superior vena cava and then flows into the right atrium. From the right atrium, it
passes through the tricuspid valve and then into the right ventrical. The blood is then pumped
through the pulmonary valve and into the lungs.

Once in the lungs, carbon dioxide is removed and oxygen is added to the blood.

Left side: The pulmonary vein empties oxygen-rich blood, from the lungs, into the left atrium.
From here, the blood flows from your into your left ventricle through the open mitral valve and
finally, it is pumped through the aortic valve into the aorta - the blood vessel that feeds all of
the other parts of your body.

When the ventricles are full, the mitral and tricuspid valves close. This prevents blood from
flowing backward into the atria while the ventricles contract (squeeze) or "pump." This pattern
is repeated continuously throughout your life, causing blood to flow continuously to the heart,

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lungs and other parts of the body.

The atria and ventricles work together by alternately contracting (squeezing) and relaxing to
pump blood through your heart. The heartbeat is triggered by electrical impulses that travel
down a special pathway through your heart. The electrical system of your heart is the power
source that makes this beating possible.

The heart requires oxygen to function properly. But the blood that is pumping through the heart
does not supply oxygen to the heart muscle itself. Special blood vessels attached to the outside
of the heart, called coronary arteries, supply the heart with oxygen and nutrients needs. Three
major arteries and a number of smaller vessels are designed to perform this function.

4.DISEASES OF HEART

Cardiovascular disease occurs when the heart becomes clogged, broken down, or in
need of repair. Severe cardiovascular disease is the leading cause for heart
transplantation, but other malfunctions such as valve damage and chamber problems
also require the need for a new heart. Currently, 12 million Indians have at least
one kind of cardiovascular disease. Heart disease is the number one cause of death in
India. Since many conditions fall under the in category of cardiovascular disease,
we will focus on the two main causes for heart transplantation and artificial hearts:

4.1 CORONORY HEART DISEASE AND CONGESTIVE HEART

FAILURE

Coronary heart disease (CHD) afflicts approximately 20 percent of all

patients diagnosed with cardiovascular disease. Patient’s symptoms can range

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from being mild to intolerable. CHD is the hardening of artery walls inside the
heart. Arteries are essentially piping that connects heart valves together. In CHD ,
the transportation of blood becomes impaired when a mixture of fat and
cholesterol, or plaque, lines the arteries the build-up of plaque restricts the free flow
of blood, which induces pressure drop between the valves. The heart compensates for
this pressure drop by pumping harder in order to provide enough blood for the
entire body Patients suffering from CHD often exhibit symptoms such as severe
chest pain and fatigue due to the lack of oxygenated blood. For severe cases of
CHD, the only cure is a heart transplant .Congestive heart failure (CHF) arises when
the heart does not efficiently pump blood. Since the heart is unable to pump enough
oxygen-rich blood, blood starts to fill in the lungs, which leads to congestion.
Therefore, the heart must work harder in order to meet the body’s oxygen demands.
This behavior causes excessive wear to the diseased organ initial symptoms of CHF,
such as fatigue and swelling of the ankles, is usually so option. Until the condition
becomes much more severe. As the disease progresses patients start to suffer from
shortness of breath and palpitations even while remaining stationary.

Surgeons started developing heart transplantion techniques early as

the 1900s. Preliminary transplantations conducted on animals proved to have fatal
cosequences caused by the donor organ rejection.Therefore doctors were skeptical to
try transplantation procedures on humans. In 1905, the first cardiac heart transplant was
performed by two surgeons on a dog. They removed the heart of a dog and placed into the
chest cavity of larger dog (Transplantation) Then the heartbeat resumed but the dog
transplantation. Though the experiment had fatal results, this event stunned the
medical community and spearheaded further research in field of cardiac expired
two hours after the operation.By definition, heart transplantation is the replacement of a
patient’s diseased or injured heart with a healthy donor heart. Reaching the exact
definition of transplantation proved to be an extremely difficult task. In order to deter
organ rejection after transplantation, research was launched in field of
immunosuppressant drugs. An immunosuppressant drug restrains a transplanted
patient’s immune system to prevent rejection of the implanted organ.
Dr. Gertrude Elion developed the first with end stage cardiovascular disease
in 1957. Azathioprine proved to be useful tool that helped facilitate future

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advancements in organ transplantation. In 1967, Dr. Barnard performed the first human heart
transplant in Cape Town, South Africa. Dr. Barnard implanted the donor heart from a 25-year
old female into a 55-year old female with end stage cardiovascular disease .she
lived for 18 days with the transplanted organ. Ironically, the medication
prescribed to suppress rejection of the new organ weakened his immune system.
Current heart transplantation techniques prove to be a viable option .According to the United
Network of Organ Sharing (UNOS), 2,202 heart transplants were performed in 2001
compared to 170 transplants performed in 1970. Currently, approximately 70% of transplant
patients live for five or more years after transplantation [UNOS, 1999]. These current
statistics are staggering in comparison to the 14% survival rate from the early
1970s.Scientists and physicians have worked collectively to make transplantation a safe and
effective process.failure patients, there are many limitations to the procedure. As of
now more than 11,163 patients were awaiting heart transplant [UNOS, 2004]. Only
about quarter of these patients will receive a new heart [UNOS, 2004].

5.ARTIFICIAL HEART DEVELOPMENT

The development of artificial hearts reflects a transition from a support device to a completely
self-contained machine. In the 1960s, the purpose of an artificial heart was to temporarily
support patients until a donor heart became available. Surgeons attempted successful;
however, many surgeons became wary of this device because it early 1980s by implanting an
artificial heart intended for long-term therapy. The device they used was the Jarvik-7, a blood
pump that replaces the heart’s ventricles. The procedure was initially successful; however,
many surgeons became wary of this device because it did not offer an
acceptable quality of life. As a result, the public began to question the need
for permanently removing vital components of the heart. The world of artificial
heart technology then separated into two classes: assist devices and artificial
hearts. In the 1980s, several organizations, including Abiomed Inc., Penn State
Medical Center, and the Texas Heart Institute, began developing ideas for new
designs. Their intent was to engineer artificial hearts that could permanently
sustain heart failure patients while providing a decent quality of life. These
companies immediately encountered one huge barrier infection due to precutaneous or
skin piercing, tubes. During the 1980s, every artificial heart had power cords,

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blood tubes, or air tubes protruding from skin. It was not until the early 1990s with
the advent of transcutaneous technology

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This device is a permanent artificial heart that is completely self- contained

within the body. Some cases like they may have failure on both left and right side of
the heart. Before the introduction of the device, doctors had no option than to let
these patients die. However, artificial heart developers, such as Abiomed Corp. and
Penn State, focused their design parameters for patients whose hearts have
irreversibly failing left and right ventricles. This category of patients comprises
about 20% of those in need of a heart transplant. Designs for this device initially began in the
early 1980s, around the time of the Jarvik-7. Only recently has the device artificial heart
received. The device which was prepared by Abiomed with the same principle was approved
by FDA for clinical testing. The large time span for approval results from the controversy
caused by the Jarvik-7. The device design addresses key pitfalls encountered with the Jarvik7
Improvements include better surface materials to reduce blood clotting and a newly
engineered power system that does not require skin piercingelectrical cords. These design
considerations were applied to the new model and clinical testing of the device made by
Abiomed has begun in the recent times. The first patient implanted with the device, was lived
for nearly five months. This event caught the attention of the public because it was the first
time a patient with an artificial heart was able to stand up and walk around. As of patients are
alive today.

Three subsystems implanted under the skin make up the design of the device.
These subsystems include the heart pump, a computerized pump controller, and a
power source. All of the subsystems cumulatively,Weigh around 4 pounds and operate so
quietly that stethoscope is needed to listen to the heart sounds. Surgeons implant the heart
pump in the area from where the ventricles are removed. Channels that connect naturally to
the ventricles are then sewn into artificial cuffs that snap on to the heart. Two independent
hydraulic motors lie inside the heart One motor maintains the pumping
function to each ventricle while the other motor operates the motion of the four
heart valves. The pumping motion operates through hydraulics by an oscillating
pusher plate that squeezes sacs which alternatively expel blood to the lungs and
the body. When the blood sacs become full, the exit valves are shut and the entrance
valves are open. The pump then squeezes the sacs, which allows the exit valves
to open and the entrance valves to close. The device is capable of producing
more than two gallons of blood every minute, which signifies a higher output

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than the Ventricular assist devices(VAD). Similar in design to the VAD, a small
computer secured in the abdomen of a patient automatically adjusts the output of
the pump. The continual monitoring of blood flow guarantees that incoming flow
matches outgoing flow. This rhythm ensures steady state pumping of the heart.
The transfer of energy is also the same as in the VAD. Surgeons implant an
electric coil in the abdomen area to allow for energy transfer across the skin.
Patients wear a battery pack around the waist and must change the batteries several
times daily. The system also includes an internal battery so that patient may
uncouple the external power source in order to take a shower. One significant
advantage to the device is the smooth surface of the blood sacs. Smooth plastics
are important in order to ensure constant motion of blood cells. Any time blood
stops moving along the device clotting develops. The smoothness of the
plastic, called Angioflex, allows for minimal damage to the blood. Angioflex is
also durable enough to withstand 1,00,000 beats a day for several years. This
plastic is a major contribution to the life and to the safety of the device.

- There are different types of artificial heart one such is Abiocor artificial heart which is
explained below AbioCor replacement heart:

- The Massachusetts based company AbioMed has produced the AbioCor artificial heart.

6.Thoracic Unit (Replacement Heart)

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The Replacement Heart (called the Thoracic Unit) is about the same size and shape as
a natural heart and weighs a little over 2 pounds. It is implanted in the chest in place of the
original diseased heart and connected to the blood vessels that supply blood throughout the
body.

Fig 6a Artificial heart

The AbioCor Replacement Heart has right and left Blood Pumps that take turns
pumping blood to the lungs and other areas of the body. These pumps are like balloons that
fill with blood and then squeeze it out. Like the natural heart, each Blood Pump has an inflow
opening for incoming blood and outflow opening for outgoing blood. These openings are
connected to the patient’s own arteries and veins during the implant surgery.

The AbioCor System is an implantable artificial heart intended to replace the patient’s
natural heart. It is designed for patients whose hearts are irreparably damaged or who are at
risk of death by heart failure but have other vital organs that are viable. An implanted,
working AbioCor System includes 5 implanted components along with external components
that control and power the implanted components.

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Fig 6b Implanted artificial heart.

The internal (implanted) components receive power and control signals from either
the AbioCor Console or the Patient-Carried Electronics (PCE). The AbioCor Console is the
primary interface and power source for the implanted components. The PCE is a more
portable system designed to allow independent mobility.

6.1 Implanted Battery

The Implanted Battery provides power to the Controller and the Replacement Heart.
Like the Controller, the Implanted Battery is placed in the patient’s abdomen when the
Replacement Heart is implanted. The Implanted Battery is sealed in a titanium case and
connected to the Implanted Controller and the Implanted Transcutaneous Energy Transfer
(TET) coil. The Implanted Battery is continuously charged through the skin by the External

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TET, which gets power from the Console or the PCE (Patient Carried Electronics). The
Implanted Battery lasts for about a year, and can be replaced by during a simple surgical
procedure.

Fig 6.1 Implanted external battery

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6.2 Implanted Controller

The Implanted Controller is the brain of the implanted parts of the AbioCor System. It
performs several critical functions:
• monitoring of the Thoracic Unit and the other implanted components
• control of the Thoracic Unit
• communication with the external components and alarms (the AbioCor Console or Patient-
Carried
Electronics)
The Implanted Controller manages the cardiac output rate of the Replacement Heart to
provide the needed blood flow. Most of the time, the Implanted Controller works
automatically, but it can be operated manually by the clinician. The Implanted Controller is
sealed in a titanium case, connected to the Replacement Heart by cables. It is implanted in
the abdomen at the same time as the Replacement Heart. The Implanted Controller monitors
the AbioCor system to make sure it is working correctly. It also exchanges information with
the Console to trigger an alarm if a problem occurs.

Fig 6.2

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The amount of blood that flows through your heart, expressed in

liters per minute(L/min); a liter is about 34 ounces, a little more than a
quart

6.3 Implanted TET

The Implanted TET is located under the skin, usually in the upper chest area, and is
shaped to conform to the shape of the body. It is connected to the Replacement Heart,
Implanted Controller, and Implanted Battery. The Implanted TET receives electrical energy,
in the form of radio waves, through the skin from the External TET to keep your AbioCor
System charged. The Implanted TET is the primary power source for the AbioCor System’s
implanted components. It converts radio waves from the External TET into electrical energy
usable by the implanted components. Because the radio waves used can pass through a small
thickness of the skin, no wires that pass through the skin are needed.

Fig 6.3 Implanted TET.

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6.4 External parts of the AbioCor system External parts of the

AbioCor System
The AbioCor System has external parts that work with the implanted components of
the system. These external parts provide power to the AbioCor System, monitor its
performance, and provide a way for the patient and clinician to adjust the system when it’s
necessary.

Fig 6.4a Human with implanted TET

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6.5 Console
The AbioCor Console is a specialized computer with a keypad and screen. It is
plugged into a regular household electrical wall outlet to provide power to the AbioCor
System through the Implanted TET and External TETs. The Console also contains a backup
Battery that can supply power for 35 to 40 minutes if normal electrical power is interrupted.
The Console uses radio waves (like a cell phone) to send commands through the RF
Antenna to the AbioCor Implanted Controller and to receive information from the Implanted
Controller about how the Replacement Heart is functioning. The Console also notifies the
patient and caregiver with alarm lights and sounds if a problem occurs with the AbioCor
System.

Fig 6.5 Console Machine

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6.6 External TET

The External TET is a silicone ring containing electronics. The External TET transfers
energy from the Console to the implanted components of the AbioCor System. The energy
flows from the Console to the External TET, across the skin, and into the Implanted TET. The
Implanted TET distributes this energy to the implanted AbioCor System components.
The External TET is placed directly over the location where the Implanted TET is
located A cable connected to the External TET is plugged into the back of the Console.

Fig6.6 External TET

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6.7 PATIENT-CARRIED ELECTRONICS

The Patient-Carried Electronics (PCE) is a portable system that provides battery

power to the implanted AbioCor System through an External TET. (The TETs used with the
PCE are the same as the ones used with the Console.) The PCE is carried in nylon Battery
Bag that you can wear over your shoulder. The PCE allows you to be mobile, away from the
Console, for extended periods of time. Like the Console, the PCE monitors your AbioCor
System, using alarm lights and sounds to inform the patient if there is a problem with the
system.

Fig 6.7 Patient with PCE bag.

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6.8 PCE BATTERY BAG

The PCE Battery Bag holds 2 pairs of PCE Batteries and the Battery control
electronics. The Battery Bag, which weighs about 10 pounds with the Batteries in place, has a
shoulder strap so it can be easily carried. It has mesh pouches on the outside to hold the PCE
Control Module and other small items. Plastic cardholders inside the top cover can be used to
keep emergency phone numbers close at hand.

Fig 6.8 PCE battery bag

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6.9 PCE CONTROL MODULE

The PCE Control Module is a separate unit that is connected to the Battery
Bag by the Battery Cable. It can also be connected directly to AC Power through the AC
Power Adapter. The PCE Control Module does two main things:
• It converts Battery energy or AC power into energy that can be transmitted to the AbioCor
System’s implanted parts through the TET.
• It notifies the patient about alarms for the PCE or for any of the AbioCor System’s
implanted parts.

Fig 6.9 PCE control module

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6.10 PCE BATTERIES

The PCE holds 2 pairs of Batteries—a total of 4 Batteries .Each pair of Batteries
provides power for the AbioCor’s implanted components for about One hour.

Fig 6.10 PCE battery

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7. CONCLUSION
Heart failure is the leading cause of death in India and also all
over the World. Most people die from heart failure chambers, fail to push
enough blood through the body. A solution to donor heart rejection surfaced in
the early 1980s with the advent of cyclosporine an immunosuppressant and this
discovery, the average survival rate of heart transplant patients increased to
more than 5 years. One of the drawbacks to heart transplantation is its
availability is only half of the patients needing a heart transplant will receive a
donor heart The development of artificial hearts resurfaced again in 1993 with
the advent of transcutaneous technology.
Transcutaneous technology is based on the transfer of power
across the skin by electric coils. This technology eliminates infection due to
skin- protruding electrical tubes. Artificial hearts and heart transplantation are
the only methods for saving the lives of patients with heart failure. As of today,
heart transplantation is the official method for replacing the human heart. But,
Donor hearts are not available to all patients. Heart transplantation and artificial
hearts are not a competing source of technology. These technologies exist
parallel to each other in order to encompass the whole population of patients in
need of a new heart. Hope this technology will soon reach to the common man
in INDIA.

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8.BIBLIOGRAPHY

1 "AbioCor Implantable." Texas Heart Institute. 2007. 15 Oct. 2007

<http://www.texasheartinstitute.org/Research/Devices/abiocor.cfm>.

2. "Abiomed, Inc." FundingUniverse.Com. 2002. 15 Oct. 2007

<http://www.fundinguniverse.com/company-histories/Abiomed-Inc-Company-History.html>.

3."Heart Transplants: Statistics." 2007. American Heart Association. 15 Oct. 2007

<http://www.americanheart.org/presenter.jhtml?identifier=4588>.

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<http://www.nhlbi.nih.gov/health/dci/Diseases/chd/chd_heartworks.html>.

5. www.bbcworld.com

6. www.abiomod.com

7. www.cnn.com

8. www.heartcenteronline.com

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