AbioCor totally implantable artificial heart. How will it impact hospitals? 2002


Although heart transplantation remains the most effective treatment for severe heart failure, there are far fewer donor hearts available than there are patients who could benefit from them. One approach to addressing this shortfall is the total artificial heart, or TAH. To date, however, no TAH design has been able to achieve one of the ultimate goals of heart replacement: to allow a patient to live a reasonably normal life without being connected to external machinery. A new design, the AbioCor TAH developed by Abiomed Inc., may make this goal achievable. Thanks to a power system that transfers energy through the skin without the aid of wires, the AbioCor--currently undergoing clinical trials in the United States--allows the patient to be completely mobile. The lack of transcutaneous wires also eliminates the primary source of the infections that have plagued TAH patients in the past. Though it is not without drawbacks, the AbioCor could represent a crucial advance in TAH technology. In this Technology Overview, we describe the operation of the AbioCor and discuss its likely impact on hospitals if it is approved for marketing in the United States. We also discuss a related cardiac-support technology: ventricular assist devices (VADs), which may also be used for permanent cardiac support someday.

UI MeSH Term Description Entries
D010561 Personnel Staffing and Scheduling The selection, appointing, and scheduling of personnel. Staffing and Scheduling,Personnel Staffing,Work Schedule,Schedule, Work,Scheduling and Staffing,Staffing, Personnel,Work Schedules
D002986 Clinical Trials as Topic Works about pre-planned studies of the safety, efficacy, or optimum dosage schedule (if appropriate) of one or more diagnostic, therapeutic, or prophylactic drugs, devices, or techniques selected according to predetermined criteria of eligibility and observed for predefined evidence of favorable and unfavorable effects. This concept includes clinical trials conducted both in the U.S. and in other countries. Clinical Trial as Topic
D004867 Equipment Design Methods and patterns of fabricating machines and related hardware. Design, Equipment,Device Design,Medical Device Design,Design, Medical Device,Designs, Medical Device,Device Design, Medical,Device Designs, Medical,Medical Device Designs,Design, Device,Designs, Device,Designs, Equipment,Device Designs,Equipment Designs
D006353 Heart-Assist Devices Small pumps, often implantable, designed for temporarily assisting the heart, usually the LEFT VENTRICLE, to pump blood. They consist of a pumping chamber and a power source, which may be partially or totally external to the body and activated by electromagnetic motors. Artificial Ventricle,Heart Assist Device,Heart Ventricle, Artificial,Pumps, Heart-Assist,Vascular-Assist Device,Vascular-Assist Devices,Ventricle-Assist Device,Ventricular Assist Device,Artificial Heart Ventricle,Artificial Heart Ventricles,Artificial Ventricles,Assist Device, Heart,Assist Device, Ventricular,Assist Devices, Heart,Assist Devices, Ventricular,Device, Heart Assist,Device, Heart-Assist,Device, Vascular-Assist,Device, Ventricle-Assist,Device, Ventricular Assist,Devices, Heart Assist,Devices, Heart-Assist,Devices, Vascular-Assist,Devices, Ventricle-Assist,Devices, Ventricular Assist,Heart Assist Devices,Heart Ventricles, Artificial,Heart-Assist Device,Heart-Assist Pump,Heart-Assist Pumps,Pump, Heart-Assist,Pumps, Heart Assist,Vascular Assist Device,Vascular Assist Devices,Ventricle Assist Device,Ventricle, Artificial,Ventricle, Artificial Heart,Ventricle-Assist Devices,Ventricles, Artificial,Ventricles, Artificial Heart,Ventricular Assist Devices
D006354 Heart, Artificial A pumping mechanism that duplicates the output, rate, and blood pressure of the natural heart. It may replace the function of the entire heart or a portion of it, and may be an intracorporeal, extracorporeal, or paracorporeal heart. (Dorland, 28th ed) Artificial Heart,Artificial Hearts,Hearts, Artificial
D006801 Humans Members of the species Homo sapiens. Homo sapiens,Man (Taxonomy),Human,Man, Modern,Modern Man
D013673 Technology Assessment, Biomedical Evaluation of biomedical technology in relation to cost, efficacy, utilization, etc., and its future impact on social, ethical, and legal systems. Assessment, Biomedical Technology,Assessment, Technology,Biomedical Technology Assessment,Technology Assessment,Technology Assessment, Health,Assessment, Health Technology,Assessments, Biomedical Technology,Assessments, Health Technology,Assessments, Technology,Biomedical Technology Assessments,Health Technology Assessment,Health Technology Assessments,Technology Assessments,Technology Assessments, Biomedical,Technology Assessments, Health
D014481 United States A country in NORTH AMERICA between CANADA and MEXICO.
D016507 Cardiology Service, Hospital The hospital department responsible for the administration and provision of diagnostic and therapeutic services for the cardiac patient. Hospital Cardiology Service,Service, Cardiology Hospital,Service, Hospital Cardiology,Cardiology Hospital Service,Cardiology Hospital Services,Cardiology Services, Hospital,Hospital Cardiology Services,Hospital Service, Cardiology,Hospital Services, Cardiology,Services, Cardiology Hospital,Services, Hospital Cardiology
D017060 Patient Satisfaction The degree to which the individual regards the health care service or product or the manner in which it is delivered by the provider as useful, effective, or beneficial. Satisfaction, Patient

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