Artificial heart

Artificial Heart

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Artificial heart

The artificial heart is a device that replaces the heart. This device is used either to bridge the time to heart transplantation, or to permanently replace the heart in case heart transplantation is impossible.

History

The development of the artificial heart has been an ongoing research effort dating back to the 20th century. The first artificial heart to be implanted in a human was the Jarvik-7, designed by Robert Jarvik and implanted by William DeVries in 1982.

Types

There are two main types of artificial hearts: mechanical and biological. Mechanical hearts are typically used as a temporary measure, to bridge the gap until a donor heart can be found. Biological hearts, made from animal tissue or grown from stem cells, are still in the experimental stages, but may be used in the future for permanent heart replacement.

Function

The artificial heart is designed to mimic the function of a human heart. It has two chambers and is connected to the patient's circulatory system. The device pumps blood through the body, replacing the function of the failing heart.

Risks and Complications

While the artificial heart has saved many lives, it is not without risks. Complications can include infection, bleeding, stroke, and equipment failure.

Future Developments

Research is ongoing to develop more efficient and reliable artificial hearts. Future developments may include the use of stem cells to grow biological hearts, and improvements in mechanical heart technology.

See Also

• Heart transplantation
• Cardiology
• Biomedical engineering

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