Left ventricular heart assist device using MC and ECG feedback

Abstract

The human heart pumps blood throughout the body via the circulatory system, supplying oxygen and nutrients to the tissues which helps bodies function and removing carbon dioxide and other waste products [1]. Cardiac failure happens when the heart cannot pump enough blood and oxygen to support other organs [2]. In USA about 5.7 million adult patients are diagnosed with heart failure and one in 9 deaths in 2009 included heart failure as contributing cause [3]. The European Society of Cardiology represents countries with a population of more than 900 million, and in their last guidelines they reported that there are at least 26 million patients suffering this disease in those 51 countries [4] Heart failure is a serious condition, but it does not mean that the heart has stopped beating. At present time, cardiac transplantation remains the gold standard of cardiac replacement therapy. However, the supply of donor hearts is limited and therefore is not an option for many patients because of age and other conditions. Alternative forms of cardiac replacement therapy include cell therapy, xenotransplantation, ventricle assist devices implantation and total artificial heart. Left ventricle assist device is more and more reliable, efficient and its size is becoming smaller with technology development.