How does the AbioCor work?
As one of the most sophisticated implantable medical devices to be developed, the AbioCor is designed so that a patient can remain mobile and continue a productive lifestyle. Equipped with an internal motor, the AbioCor is able to move blood through the lungs and to the rest of the body, simulating the rhythm of a heartbeat. The AbioCor consists of an internal thoracic unit, an internal rechargeable battery, an internal miniaturized electronics package and an external battery pack. The thoracic unit, weighing about two pounds, includes two artificial ventricles with their corresponding valves and a motor-driven hydraulic pumping system. The implantable electronics package monitors and controls the pumping speed of the heart based on the physiologic needs of the patient. The AbioCor operates on both internal and external lithium batteries. The internally implanted battery is continually recharged from an external console or from a basic patient-carried external battery pack. This is ach
