Innovative system and method for implantable electroactive polymer heart assistive mesh.
Heart failure can be characterized by a decrease in cardiac function, which in turn leads to an inability
for enough blood to pump to meet the body’s demands. Heart failure is diagnosed on almost 550,000
people per year, and one of the leading diseases in this realm is cardiovacular disease (CVD).
Approximately 17.3 million people die annually from CVD. There is an
estimation that this number will rise to 23.3 million by the year 2030.
Common techniques to repair heart failure include heart transplant,
ventricular assist devices (VAD), and total artiĕcial heart devices (TAH).
Although sometimes successful, there are many issues that arise with
these medical interventions. Some are not eligible for a heart transplant,
and those who are must wait a significant amount of time for a suitable
donor to become available. Those who are ineligible qualify for VADs
that can be used as a bridge to transplant or long-term destination
therapy. The trouble with these is that VADs can cause pump thrombosis
and strokes, and they lack the fatigue resistance necessary.
Oftentimes, estimated to be 72.9% of the time, VADs suffer fatal device
failures which leads to a high mortality rate in the patients that select this method of medical treatment.
There are also occasions where the VAD that is installed within the left ventricle causes the right ventricle
to fail. These VADs are unnatural to the body and do not accurately replicate what they are meant to do.
APPLICATION AND ADVANTAGES:
In order to solve the issues that are brought about with the use of traditional VADs, there is a need for
a device that mimics the natural functions of the heart muscle contractions. This can be accomplished
by developing a supportive mesh that is created with electroactive polymers,
which use voltage differrentials that allow contractions to occur just as a
natural heart would. The mesh conforms to the natural shape of the heart to
add support and provide necessary contractions in the ventricle.
Nickel and Titanium are the two elements that make up the mesh.
Electroactive polymers, which are created by these elements, are soft and
active materials that assist with the beating of the heart. Instead of opting
for invasive surgeries such as replacing the entirety of the heart or utilizing
the technology of a VAD, this new material can reduce the risk of heart
failue and help with the heart’s recovery.