With heart disease so prevalent, especially in the United States, much of researchers focus has shifted to combat this new malady. There have been many different models for artificial hearts but none as promising as the newest product by Abiomed. Throughout the coming years however, this promising invention will have to endure many trials before it can begin to make a effective impact on heart-related health issues.
After three decades of research by the medical group, Abiomed, has finally reached the point at which they can begin to see their work payoff. With clinical trials now in progress, the capabilities of the Abiocor Artificial heart system are being realized. However the history of artificial heart research spans farther back than this. During the 50’s and 60’s, there was a growing interest in synthetic materials which begat produ

During the construction of the Abiocor heart, one of the most significant issues was finding a material that would not inhibit blood flow or cause blood clots or pooling. With help from design engineers, a new product was created-Angioflex (Ames). Angioflex is a proprietary polyurethane plastic that could be used in every surface that interacts with blood (Abiocor). This material was able to be so successful because of its atomic bonds. Polyurethane plastic is what is known as a polymer. Polymers are usually very long chained molecules made up of a small repeating molecule (Polymer). Polyurethane is also a thermoplastic molecule meaning it has a linear and crystalline structure, protecting it from abrasions (Plastics). Due to the smoothness of its structure, Angioflex is favorable for not damaging bloods or causing clots. Also because it is a p