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Domain: thoratec.com

Stories and comments across the archive that link to thoratec.com.

Comments · 7

  1. This is not an Artificial Heart by pereav · · Score: 1 · on Artificial Heart Recipient Has No Pulse

    So this article i found to be kind of annoying and misleading. Sure the technology/device that is being used to keep this woman alive is absolutely amazing, but it's not an artificial heart. The device she received is called a left ventricular assist device (LVAD), which is attached TO her existing heart to help her heart pump blood. Her heart is totally still in her, and is still pumping away, it is just not very strong and doesn't make much of an impact on her overall total blood flow. If she had received an artificial heart, her old heart would have been totally removed and replaced with a machine. Just thought i should clarify the type of device that she had received. Oh specifically it's called a HeartMate II. You can check out more info from the compay's website http://www.thoratec.com/.

  2. Re:In a movie by Mursk · · Score: 1 · on Artificial Heart Recipient Has No Pulse
    I posted on this topic above, but someone has lived for four years (at least) with a continuous flow VAD. Some additional information can also be found on this website:

    http://www.thoratec.com/vad-trials-outcomes/clinical-outcomes/heartmate-ll-lvad.aspx

  3. Re:No pulse seems bad by Mursk · · Score: 1 · on Artificial Heart Recipient Has No Pulse
    The HeartMate II, a continuous flow device, has been approved for use in Europe and the US for sure, I think Asia and S. America, too. Apparently the longest patient so far is 4 years. If you know anyone sick enough to require one of these devices, that's pretty damn good. No indication as far as I can tell what happened to that patient (transplant, new pump, etc.).

    Source: http://www.thoratec.com/vad-trials-outcomes/clinical-outcomes/heartmate-ll-lvad.aspx

  4. Re:In a movie by Mursk · · Score: 1 · on Artificial Heart Recipient Has No Pulse

    It looks like two devices are being discussed. One is a (theoretical, as far as I can tell) continuous flow artifical heart. The other is a ventricular assist device, specifically the HeartMate II (http://www.thoratec.com/). A video on that website shows that this device does in fact have a moving, bladed rotor.

  5. Re:Heart Mate II Pump by t00le · · Score: 1 · on Artificial Heart Recipient Has No Pulse

    http://www.thoratec.com/medical-professionals/vad-product-information/heartmate-ll-lvad.aspx

  6. Having no pulse isn't new by timchampion · · Score: 1 · on Artificial Heart Recipient Has No Pulse
    My co-worker's husband had a LVAD (Left Ventricular Assist Device) implanted in his chest called the HeartMate II. It took enough work away from his heart that he had no pulse. The EMTs had to be trained that if they responded to a call for him, he would have no detectable pulse.

    Now this is different in that it didn't replace his heart, but its a continuous pump, and results in no pulse.

  7. Pumps by Doctor+Beavis · · Score: 4, Informative · on Stem Cells in the Heart?

    These pumps are called LVADs, or Left Ventricular Assist Devices, and they have been widely used for years (and continue to be). Here's one site with some pretty general, readable information on them. There are a few varieties (some provide pulsatile flow, like the HeartMate XVE) and some provide axial, non-pulsatile flow (HeartMate II). I don't work for Thoratec, but those are by far the most commonly used ones at my institution. Here is a link to some videos from Thoratec if you're interested. Hope you find this useful.