The man-made “bridges” to continued life

What and why?man-made devices that act as an organ

within the body

extends life of patients with organ failures

replace an organ depending on situation

The Artificial PancreasUsed by people with type 1 diabetes Two main components:

Insulin PumpContinuous Glucose Meter

Glucose meter reads bloods sugar levels, sends info to Insulin pump, pump injects insulin accordingly

Artificial KidneyKidney cleanses blood of waste products

Kidney/renal failure causes kidneys to not function properly, leads to

abnormal concentration of fluids within body

Kidney transplant needed in order to survive.

Artificial kidney/dialyzer used to keep patient alive while he/she waits

Dialyzer contains several small tubes and microscopic holes

Contains special fluid known as dialysate

DialysisBlood enters dialyzer with dialysate

Waste products move from blood to dialysate

Certain chemicals from dialysate enrich blood

Blood leaves dialyzer goes through air bubble detector and back into bloodstream

Artificial HeartUsed for patients with heart failure

awaiting heart transplant

Two types used: V.A.D andT.A.H

V.A.D Artificial HeartVentricle assist deviceUsed to help partially working ventricles of heartExample:

Novacor LVASHow it works: Pump connected to left ventricle.

When heart pumps, bloods enters from left ventricle through inflow conduit and into artificial heart pump. Low resistance from blood moving out of the left ventricle reduces load greatly allowing heart to have normal stroke volume. Blood in pump then leaves through an outflow conduit and into arterial system of body.

T.A.HTotal Artificial HeartReplaces both ventricles of an almost

completely failed heartAttached to upper chamber of heart (left and

right atrium)Two types: Cardiowest and Abiocor

Artificial LungStill in development and testingExample: BiolungHow it works: can sized lung attached to right

ventricle of heart. When blood is pumped through CO2 leaves blood and O2 enters as blood passes through array of microfibers. Blood travels back to left atrium of heart.

Improvements needed: Determine optimal fiber shape,

distance of fibers and number of fibers.

Advantages, Disadvantages, Risks Advantage: Only one major advantage, extends life increasing

chance of receiving organ transplant

Disadvantage: Money, artificial heart costs between $100000 to $300000

Risks: Surgery risks, immunosuppressives, machine failure

Works Cited http://www.kidney.org/patients/plu/plu_online_images/hemodiagram.jpg

http://digitalmarsh.files.wordpress.com/2008/09/abiocor-heart.jpghttp://www.jdrf.org/images/General_Images/Research/art_pancreas01.jpg

http://media.rd.com/rd/images/rdc/mag0803/medical-breakthrough-BioLung-af.jpg http://www.medgadget.com/archives/img/131113.jpg http://www.worldheart.com/images/product-vas.jpg http://www.ideaconnection.com/images/inventions/lg_wearable-artificial-kidney.jpg http://www.mc3corp.com/images/content/sidebar_images/Professional_BioLung_drawin.jpg What Is a Total Artificial Heart? . Total Artificial Heart. Retrieved November 18, 2009, from

http://www.nhlbi.nih.gov/health/dci/Diseases/tah/tah_what.html Update on Work on Artificial Lung Prototypes - Regenerative Medicine at the McGowan Institute.

Regenerative Medicine at the McGowan Institute. Retrieved November 19, 2009, from http://www.mirm.pitt.edu/news/article.asp?qEmpID=266

Type 1 Diabetes. University of Virginia Health System. Retrieved December 1, 2009, from http://www.healthsystem.virginia.edu/uvahealth/adult_diabetes/type1.cfm

People Like Us Live Web Series. (National Kidney Foundation. Retrieved December 1, 2009, from http://www.kidney.org/patients/plu/plu_hemo/pluo_3.cfm

MC3 Artificial Lung (Biolung). MC3 Artificial Lung (Biolung). Retrieved December 1, 2009, from :www.ele.uri.edu/courses/ele382/F07/Afeez_1.pdf

End Stage Renal Disease (ESRD). University of Virginia Health System. Retrieved December 1, 2009, from http://www.healthsystem.virginia.edu/UVAHealth/adult_urology/endstage.cfm

Artificial Pancreas - iVillage Your Total Health. iVillage Your Total Health Home - iVillage Your Total Health. Retrieved December 1, 2009, from http://lymphomafocus.org/artificial-pancreas.html?pageNum=3

Artificial Heart Program Technology - Pulsatile Systems - Regenerative Medicine at the McGowan Institute. (n.d.). Regenerative Medicine at the McGowan Institute. Retrieved December 1, 2009, from http://www.mirm.pitt.edu/programs/medical_devices/ahp_technology3.asp