| Dictionary, Encyclopedia and Thesaurus - The Free Dictionary 1,738,755,114 visitors served. |
|
Dictionary/ thesaurus | Medical dictionary | Legal dictionary | Financial dictionary | Acronyms | Idioms | Encyclopedia | Wikipedia encyclopedia | ? |
artificial heart |
Also found in: Medical, Wikipedia | 0.01 sec. |
|
artificial heart: see heart, artificial ventricular assist device (VAD), or "artificial ventricle," is an internally implanted pump designed to aid a person with a failing left ventricle; unlike an artificial heart, it does not require removal of the patient's heart. ..... Click the link for more information. . artificial heartMachine or mechanical pump that maintains blood circulation in the human body. The heart-lung machine, a mechanical pump, can maintain circulation for a few hours while the heart is stopped for surgery. It shunts blood away from the heart, oxygenates it, and returns it to the body. No device has yet been developed for total, long-term replacement of the heart; existing artificial hearts reduce the heart's workload by pumping between beats or acting as an auxiliary ventricle and are suitable only as temporary replacements in patients awaiting transplant. See also pacemaker. artificial heart [¦ärd·ə¦fish·əl ′härt] (medicine) An endoprosthetic device used to replace or assist the heart. How to thank TFD for its existence? Tell a friend about us, add a link to this page, add the site to iGoogle, or visit webmaster's page for free fun content. |
|
| ? Mentioned in | ? References in periodicals archive | |
|---|---|---|
A victory over microbial settlers would also reduce infection risks in people who rely on plastic or metal implants such as artifical heart valves or pacemakers, Litsky says. |
| Encyclopedia |
| Free Tools: |
For surfers:
Free toolbar & extensions |
Word of the Day |
Help
For webmasters: Free content | Linking | Lookup box | Double-click lookup | Partner with us |
|---|