How does the heart work?

The four chambers of the heart are each made of cardiac muscle which contracts automatically, powerfully and without tiring as fast as 3 times per second for up to 100 years. The energy for a natural heart comes from respiration. The release of energy from glucose using oxygen, to make carbon dioxide and water. The glucose and the oxygen are carried to the heart in the blood, through the coronary artery (see photo below).

Natural heart. A coronary artery and vein are clearly visible.

Coronary heart disease prevents the supply of blood to the heart muscle and it stops pumping.

Two hearts as one

In the natural hearts of all birds and mammals the blood flows separately through the two sides. In effect there are two pumps. Each pump is made from two heart chambers:

The right ventricle pumps blood to the lungs and the left ventricle pumps the blood into the aorta and around the head and body.

The pulse rate is controlled by two sets of nerves which come from the brain. One set slows the heart rate and the others speed it up. This enables you to increase the supply of blood to your body organs when you increase your level of activity. (e.g. to your leg muscles when you run)

Blood Flow

Blood flows through the body with pulsing action. The walls of the aorta contain elastic fibres and muscle fibres which stretch in response to the pulse of blood each time the heart beats.

How does the AbioCor Implantable Replacement Heart work?

The AbioCor Heart is made from titanium metal and a special type of plastic. A rechargeable internal battery allows the patient to be completely free of the external power transmission unit for some period of time. Normally an external power pack transmits power across the skin

with permission from AbioCor

Two hearts as one

Just like the natural heart, the AbioCor Implantable Replacement Heart consists of two blood pumps. The right chamber supplies blood to the lungs, while the left pump provides blood to other vital organs and the rest of the body. Each of the two pumps is capable of delivering more than eight litrers of blood every minute. The replacement heart is compact (about the size of a grapefruit) and quiet. A stethoscope is required to listen to the "heart sounds."

Blood Flow

The AbioCor system is designed to increase or decrease its pump rate in response to the body's needs. It will generate pulsatile blood flow which safely mimics the heart’s pumping action.The AbioCor also includes an active monitoring system that provides detailed performance feedback and alarms in the event of irregularities.