Feb 13, 2024
A new solution for energy transfer to heart pumps mitigates infection
Posted by Shubham Ghosh Roy in categories: biotech/medical, electronics
Roughly 1 in 2 wearers of ventricular assist devices are diagnosed with an infection. The reason for this is the thick cable for the power supply. ETH Zurich researchers have now developed a solution to mitigate this problem.
For many patients waiting for a donor heart, the only way to live a decent life is with the help of a pump attached directly to their heart. This pump requires about as much power as a TV, which it draws from an external battery via a seven-millimeter-thick cable. The system is handy and reliable, but it has one big flaw: Despite medical treatment, the point at which the cable exits the abdomen can be breached by bacteria.
Continue reading “A new solution for energy transfer to heart pumps mitigates infection” »