AbioCor
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AbioCor is an artificial heart developed by the Massachusetts-based company AbioMed. It is fully implantable within a patient, due to a combination of advances in miniaturization, biosensors, plastics and energy transfer that has made this advance possible. The AbioCor runs on a rechargeable source of power. The internal battery is charged by a transcutaneous energy transmission (TET) system, meaning that no wires or tubes penetrate the skin and therfore there is no risk of infection. It was approved by the Food and Drug Administration on September 5, 2006, making it the "First Totally Implanted Artificial Heart."
[edit] Use
The internal battery of the device allows users to move freely for one hour, with external power devices extending endurance to two hours. The device can also be charged/operated using a common household electrical outlet.
[edit] Testing
As of September 2004, 14 patients have been implanted with the AbioCor heart. Most of these patients have died. For a patient to be eligible for implantation with the AbioCor, the person must have severe heart failure (with failure of both ventricles) and must be likely to die within two weeks without transplantation. The first patient to receive the AbioCor, Robert Tools, was implanted on July 2, 2001. He lived for 151 days before having a fatal cerebrovascular accident. Tom Christerson lived for 512 days after receiving the AbioCor, dying on February 7, 2003. It is currently approved as an Humanitarian Use Device because of its limited market.
[edit] Sources
FDA Approval Press Release September 5, 2006.
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