Ventricular Assist Devices :: Heart Transplants Health Technology Essays

Ventricular Assist Devices The Jarvik 2000 is a vast improvement in artificial perfumes since its predecessor the Jarvik-7. The Jarvik 2000 is a ventricular take to heart thingmabob. Ventricular Assist Devices (VAD) are a less(prenominal) invasive alternative to an artificial heart transplant. They are intended to take to heart the heart in pumping blood, not to replace the heart. These devices are implanted into the tree trunk and pump blood through the aorta thus, relieving the weakened ventricle of its normal workload. It whole shebang as a rotary pump so that blood is forever and a day flowing and therefore there is no longer a pulse. This device is not completely self-contained a bombing pack and the outer components must be worn around the waist. This allows the forbearing unrestricted exploit and not be immobilized as was the case for the original artificial heart. The battery pack transmits energy up to a component around the skull, the conditi on is then conducted through wires that pass internally down the neck. Unlike Jarvik-7, which was to dispense as a temporary artificial heart until a donor was found and a transplant could be performed, the Jarvik-2000 is being developed as a permanent assist device.5Peter Houghton Mr. Peter Houghton is the first patient who was fitted with the ventricular assist device. He was 61 years old during the beat of the operation, which took place in June of 2000. Mr. Houghton, who was suffering from heart failure, was only expected to live(a) a couple of weeks longer without a heart transplant or artificial help. He underwent the procedure that took 14 hours in order extract his life. He showed significant progress six weeks after his surgery with his heart and liver functions improving greatly. Mr. Houghton is capable of exercise due to the ability to manually control the blood flow rate of the device throughout his body. tardily on August 16, 2004 Mr. Houghton s et the world record for longest quantify as a patient living with a cardiac assist device, at that day he had lived with the device for 1518 days. His condition has improved so much that he can live with the device turned take out for short periods of time.