Current State and Future Perspectives of Energy Sources for Totally Implantable Cardiac Devices

Abstract

There is a large population of patients with end-stage congestive heart failure who cannot be treated by means of conventional cardiac surgery, cardiac transplantation, or chronic catecholamine infusions. Implantable cardiac devices, many designated as destination therapy, have revolutionized patient care and outcomes, although infection and complications related to external power sources or routine battery exchange remain a substantial risk. Complications from repeat battery replacement, power failure, and infections ultimately endanger the original objectives of implantable biomedical device therapy - eliminating the intended patient autonomy, affecting patient quality of life and survival. We sought to review the limitations of current cardiac biomedical device energy sources and discuss the current state and trends of future potential energy sources in pursuit of a lifelong fully implantable biomedical device.

Clinical implications of LDH isoenzymes in hemolysis and continuous‐flow left ventricular assist device‐induced thrombosis

“…Blood pumps or continuous‐flow left ventricular assist devices (CF‐LVADs), either in the form of implantable or extracorporeal devices, have emerged as a promising therapeutic alternative for end‐stage heart failure . With growing utilization of CF‐LVADs for end‐stage heart failure, adverse events remain common leading to significant patient morbidity and mortality . One such major complication is pump thrombosis.…”

“…3,[8][9][10] With growing utilization of CF-LVADs for end-stage heart failure, adverse events remain common leading to significant patient morbidity and mortality. [11][12][13][14][15][16][17][18][19][20] One such major complication is pump thrombosis. The incidence of pump thrombosis has been estimated to be between 1.4% and 13.9%, and is largely dependent on the device.…”

Management and outcomes of left ventricular assist device-associated endocarditis: a systematic review

“…However, a left ventricular assist device (LVAD) is a viable alternative for hemodynamic improvement in these patients due to a shortage of donor hearts. LVAD use in the management of refractory heart failure as a destination therapy or as a bridge to transplantation has gained popularity since its first approval in 1994 and has shown to improve survival and quality of life in these patients (2)(3)(4)(5).…”

Vakhtang Tchantchaleishvili, MD to Serve as a Co‐Editor of Adult Circulatory Support for Artificial Organs

“…However, none of these milestones has been achieved yet. From this particular standpoint, his research interests include cerebrospinal fluid circulation in LVAD patients with diminished or absent pulse, algorithms for full adjustability of continuous flow, energy sources allowing full device implantability (among others, Plutonium 238), and development of biohybrid and bioartificial organs . He has worked as a research fellow at Bern University Hospital in Bern, Switzerland, Medical University of Innsbruck in Innsbruck, Austria, and Brigham and Women's Hospital in Boston, MA, USA studying various stem cells types for myocardial recovery .…”