Donato L, Mambrito B
Istituto di Fisiologia Clinica del C.N.R., Pisa, Italy.
Technol Health Care. 1996 Apr;4(1):37-41.
In the artificial heart area, device evolution and evolution of application criteria have been synergetic in promoting advancement in the entire sector. In fact, limitations of conventional therapies prompted the short-term use of devices for supporting patients until heart transplantation or until recovery of natural heart function. This in turn stimulated device diversification. A first class of new intraventricular blood pumps, allowing simplified application procedures, but with limitation in blood flow, have been developed for short term mechanical support. Another class of devices, with more implantable components, have been developed for longer duration applications, and higher quality of patient life during the implant period. These temporary but progressively longer duration clinical applications in patients waiting for heart transplantation, demonstrated the clinical feasibility of permanent support or substitution of a failing heart; an application intended as an alternative to heart transplantation that is greatly limited by donor's organ availability. Research efforts are now focused on establishing readiness for permanent clinical use of totally implantable heart replacing systems, or of implantable devices for assisting left ventricular function.
在人工心脏领域，设备的演进与应用标准的发展相互协同，推动了整个行业的进步。事实上，传统疗法的局限性促使人们短期使用设备来支持患者，直至进行心脏移植或自然心脏功能恢复。这反过来又刺激了设备的多样化发展。为了提供短期机械支持，已经研发出了一类新型的心室血泵，其应用程序得以简化，但血流存在局限性。另一类设备具有更多可植入部件，专为更长时间的应用以及植入期间更高的患者生活质量而开发。这些在等待心脏移植的患者中临时但持续时间逐渐延长的临床应用，证明了永久性支持或替代衰竭心脏的临床可行性；这一应用旨在作为心脏移植的替代方案，但因供体器官可用性而受到极大限制。目前，研究工作集中在为完全可植入的心脏替代系统或辅助左心室功能的可植入设备建立永久临床使用的准备工作。
