Devices for substitution and

assist of body organs

Support and replacement of heart

Implanted heart assist pump
(in development)



Ø  During major heart or lungs surgery is often necessary to substitute function of these organs by
an extracorporeal device. The lungs are substituted by oxygenator, which delivers oxygen to the
body and removes carbon dioxide from it.



Ø  Two types of oxygenators: with direct contact of the gas with blood or based on diffusion of
gases through a membrane between blood and gas.



Ø  In the bubble oxygenators, the oxygen bubbles ascend in a cylindrical vessel filled by blood.
Blood uptakes oxygen and carbon dioxide is removed. Arising foam must be settled, then the blood
passes through a filter and the „bubble trap“.



Ø  Membrane oxygenators are equipped by semipermeable membranes. Problem: certain denaturation of
blood proteins and damage to the blood cells on the membranes limit their use to several hours. The
membranes are layered or form capillaries. These oxygenators represent good approximation of lungs
but it is necessary to disturb the blood layer on membranes by turbulences.



Cardiopulmonary bypass

Cardiopulmonary bypass

„Iron lungs“
(in the past)

www.blinn.edu/natscience/phillips/ironlung.html

Mechanical ventilation of lungs

Ø  Ventilation is performed with air pressure or volume limit

Artificial kidney - haemodialysis

Peritoneal dialysis

www.devicelink.com/ expo/awards02/98winQ.html.  www.healthyeatingliving.com/ Kidney_failure.htm.

Haemofiltration

According to: info-dialyse.de/.../ haemo_haemofiltration.php.

Artificial pancreas – insulin pump

http://www.diabetesaustralia.com.au/conquest/0204-insulin-pump-therapy.htm www.pnl.gov/
energyscience/06-01/ws.htm.

Retinal implant

www.nmi.de/deutsch/ showprj.php3?id=3&typ=1

Cochlear implant

The electronic cochlear implants can partly replace the Corti's organ, mainly in children which
have intact auditory nerve. It is an electrode system implanted into cochlea, which can stimulate
the nerve by impulses generated in the so-called speech-processor.

Hip joint substitution

http://www.orthogastonia.com/patient_ed/html_pages/hip/hip_hemiarthrooplasty.html

Knee joint substitution

babbage.me.ic.ac.uk/ case/mim/projects/acrobot/.
http://www.nlm.nih.gov/medlineplus/ency/imagepages/9494.htm

Ankle joint

http://www.orthogastonia.com/patient_ed/html_pages/ankle/ankle_arthroplasty.html

Elbow and shoulder joint substitution

http://www.orthogastonia.com/patient-ed.html

Joints of thumb and fingers

http://www.orthogastonia.com/patient_ed.html

Bioprosthesis of hand – emerging reality

•              Electrode on efferent nerve;

•              Electrode on afferent nerve;

•              Implanted part for recording of nervous activity and nerve stimulation;

•              Efferent telemetric connection;

•              Afferent telemetric connection;

•              Bionic hand;

•              sensors;

•              Decoder of patient’s intentions and control of prosthesis;

•              Unit mediating the signals of sensors to the brain.

•              Subsystems 8-9 will be outside body but easy to carry.

Stand up and walk (SUAW)

Development of the implant for  neuromuscular stimulation in patients suffering  from paralysis of
lower limbs. It should allow to stand up an walk - now in clinical testing

Dental prostheses

Removable upper prosthesis

Penile endoprosthesis