Phillip Hudson
472 E College Ave. Apt #G-4
State College, PA 16801
[email protected]06/01/2010
Re: Research Proposal on the artificial heart
Dear Dr.Alan Jalowitz,
Medicine is one of the most prominent topics in modern society. From hospital dramas to
daytime talk-show doctors, people have come down with medical fever. One of the biggest
reasons why is because for the majority of the population without a medical degree, medicine is
almost magical rather than scientific. Out of all the wonders medicines has produced, the act of
taking the heart from one person to save another, is the most miraculous act man have
performed. The idea is simple; one dies so that another may live. But science, via the artificial
heart, has found a way to even out the divine balance by prolonging the time needed for a
transplant (and quite possibly eliminating it). Pennsylvania researchers have collaborated across
the country to define the cutting edge in artificial heart technology, as well as creating their own
assistive and total heart replacement devices. Not only do Pennsylvania residents have little
knowledge of the progress of the artificial heart, they have no idea of the hard work state
research institutions have done to change transplant technology. I would like to take this
opportunity to enlighten your readers on this esoteric topic, and how the state of PA is hard at to
save lives.
Throughout my 4 years in PSU, I specialized in studying mathematics with emphasis on
graduate theory. The latter 2 years of study I also concurrently educated myself on physics with
its applications to medical physics. With this working knowledge, I have a great understanding
of the various mechanical, biological, and physical properties of artificial transplant technology.
With this in mind, I can delineate these abstract ideas into a more manageable form.
My research has guided me through the annals of medical histoy. I’ve pieced together
using the NY Times the progression of the artificial heart from a theological Egyptian belief
,through hollywoods indoctrination of fearing man and machine hybridization, to the latest
technology produced by companies like Abiomed in conjunction with Penn State . Use of
Abiomed press releases and product history , including clinical trial results, help to display the
most current progress made.
An artificial heart is a mechanical device surgically inserted
into the chest that replaces the heart physically and functionally.
The law of supply and Organs like the heart are the
demand is a balancing act that most sought for transplants because
touches every aspect of life, of how difficult it is to acquire. In
including the science of preserving this never ending struggle to save
it. Medical Transplants, procedures lives, medical research has
that involved replacing failing body produced breakthroughs like the
organ with a working substitute, artificial heart that not only help
are especially folly to this because reduce the demand for fresh hearts,
As far as functionality goes, an artificial heart works in the
same manner as a regular heart. Upon successfully being implanted,
an artificial heart stimulates blood flow throughout the body by various
controlled contractions and expansions of small chambers found in the
device, similarly to the function of ventricles in the human heart.
Figure A depicts the illustration of a specific artificial heart called the
Abiocor II, and it’s similar appearance to the organic heart
In figure A (above) , a successfully implanted
Abiocor II heart is shown on the right hand side
of the illustration, whereas a normal heart is
shown on the left.
The mechanism on the other hand, is a bit different than that of a
regular heart. The best way to describe the artificial heart as a whole is to
view it as a computer controlled pump. For example, consider the illustration
of the various labeled components of the Abiocorr II (figure B, left). These
components can be designated into 3 categories: the “pump”, the
“computer”, and the “power source”.
This topic is not only the latest and greatest product of technology produced in
Pennsylvnia, it’s informative in a possibly life saving manner. Statistically speaking, according
to the National Heart Lungs and Blood association, 1 in 679 people will suffer from congestive
heart failure. With the scarcity of transplantable hearts, technology like the artificial heart is the
one of the only ways to extend the life of someone whose heart is failing. Clinincal trials, like
the Abiocor II artificial heart trials I will discuss pending approval, could extend and possibly
save the life of a recipient, possibly one of the readers of PA Center for the Book. A little
knowledge goes a long way, and a piece of knowledge like this , could save a life.
