Cardiovascular devices heart valve stent

Many biomedical devices work inside the human body. Pacemakers, artificial heart valves, stents, and even artihcial hearts are some of the bionic devices correcting problems with the cardiovascular system. Pacemakers generate electric signals that improve abnormal heart rates and abnormal heart rhythms. When pulse generators located in the pacemakers sense an abnormal heart rate or rhythm, they produce shocks to restore the normal rate. Stents are inserted into an artery to widen it and open clogged blood vessels. Stents and pacemakers are examples of specialized bionic devices made up of bionic materials compatible with human structure and function. [Pg.230]

Vascular grafts and patches, as well as heart valves, are among the oldest of cardiovascular implants. More recently, permanent internal devices include pacemakers, defibrillators, stents, left ventricular assist devices, and artificial hearts. [Pg.329]

Biomaterials have played a vital role in the treatment of cardiovascular diseases, examples of applications including heart valve prostheses, vascular grafts, stents, indwelling catheters, ventricular assist devices, total implantable artificial heart, pacemakers, automatic internal cardioverter defibrillator, intraaortic balloon pump, and more. A key requirement for materials in cardiovascular applications, particularly blood-contacting devices, is blood compatibility, that is, nonthrombogenic. Additional requirements include mechanical and surface properties that are application specific. Surveying the field of polymers used in cardiovascular applications reveals that PUs, polyethylene terephthalate (PET), and expanded PTFE (ePTFE) are the most commonly used. This section will review each of the three polymers followed by a brief introduction of other emerging polymers for use in the cardiovascular area. [Pg.151]