Cardiac prosthetic devices

The Dow Chemical Company does not recommend Pellethane elastomers for long-term medical implant applications in humans (more than 30 days). Nor do they recommend the use of Pellethane elastomers for cardiac prosthetic devices regardless of the time period that the device will be wholly or partially implanted in the body. Such applications include, but are not limited to, pacemaker leads and devices, cardiac prosthetic devices such as artificial hearts, heart valves, intra-aortic balloon and control systems, and ventricular bypass assist devices. The company does not recommend any non-medical resin (or film) product for use in any human implant applications. 

Extrudable polyurethane for prosthetic devices Useful for blood bags, transvenous cardiac pacemaker leads, tubing and catheters [57] ... 

Biofllms may be formed on the surfaces of implanted artificial organs, synthetic blood vessels, joint replacements, and indwelling catheters. The picture shows a cardiac assist device. Infection may occur during operation or via the prosthetic conduits. 

Implantable biosensors are continuously becoming more popular and economically viable. In the past, the main contribution in this field was to restore malfunctioning or missing biological structures by artificial prosthetic devices such as an artificial heart and pacemaker for cardiac patients, a neurostimulator for patients with epilepsy and Alzheimer s, stents for damaged arteries, and knee implants for rheumatoid arthritis, osteoarthritis, or traumatic injuries. These biosensors offer improved quality of life... 

Its great cellular biocompatibility with the blood and the soft tissue as well as its excellent thromboresistance, does carbon material to be used fundamentally in applications of the circulatory apparatus, blood vessel and mechanical cardiac-valve prosthetic devices, being this last the most extended application. Nowadays, most of the modem heart valves are made with a coating of LTI on a polycrystalline graphite substrate or like a monolithic material [42]. 

The history of extracellular matrix (ECM)-derived medical implants is one of innovation and reinvention that spans over seven decades of cardiovascular surgery. The applications of ECM-deiived implants in these fields are broad replacement of cardiac valves, reconstruction of arteries and veins, creation of hemodialysis access, extending the lifespan of vascular reconstructions, and repairing trauma. Although there are currently a large number of ECM-derived prosthetics available for human use, understanding their similarities and differences, as well as their overall position in the general arena of implantable devices, will allow continued evolution and new applications for these versatile ECM-derived materials. 

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