The replacement or augmentation of failing human organs with artificial devices and systems has been an important element in health care for several decades. Such devices as kidney dialysis to augment failing kidneys, artificial heart valves to replace failing human valves, cardiac pacemakers to reestablish normal cardiac rhythm, and heart assist devices to augment a weakened human heart have assisted millions of patients in the previous 50 years and offers lifesaving technology for tens of thousands of patients each year. Significant advances in these biomedical technologies have continually occurred during this period, saving numerous lives with cutting edge technologies. Each of these artificial organ systems will be described in detail in separate sections of this lecture.

Maintaining quality of life in an ageing population is one of the great challenges of the 21st Century. This book summarises how this challenge is being met by multi-disciplinary developments of specialty biomaterials, devices, artificial organs and in-vitro growth of human cells as tissue engineered constructs.Biomaterials, Artificial Organs and Tissue Engineering is intended for use as a textbook in a one semester course for upper level BS, MS and Meng students. The 25 chapters are organized in five parts: Part one provides an introduction to living and man-made materials for the non-specialist; Part two is an overview of clinical applications of various biomaterials and devices; Part three summarises the bioengineering principles, materials and designs used in artificial organs; Part four presents the concepts, cell techniques, scaffold materials and applications of tissue engineering; Part five provides an overview of the complex socio-economic factors involved in technology based healthcare, including regulatory controls, technology transfer processes and ethical issues. - Comprehensive introduction to living and man-made materials - Looks at clinical applications of various biomaterials and devices - Bioengineering principles, materials and designs used in artificial organs are summarised

This book provides a comprehensive guide to the state-of-the-art in cardiovascular computing and highlights novel directions and challenges in this constantly evolving multidisciplinary field. The topics covered span a wide range of methods and clinical applications of cardiovascular computing, including advanced technologies for the acquisition and analysis of signals and images, cardiovascular informatics, and mathematical and computational modeling.

The tribology of miniature systems is quite different from the tribology of large machinery. This is the first publication to cover on an academic level both the basic concepts of the tribology of miniature systems and some areas of its practical application. A comprehensive survey is given on the specific problems encountered in this field, providing a volume that will be useful in solving professional engineering problems in the fast growing field of precision engineering and microtechnology.The suitability of various materials and lubricants for the tribological systems in miniature mechanisms is discussed. The tribological properties and the friction and wear properties which occur in such systems are analysed. Specific lubrication problems are examined in detail; in particular, the use of special tribological coatings to solve many difficult lubrication problems and to obtain high wear resistance of the rubbing elements is considered. The special investigation techniques used to characterize miniature tribological systems and their elements (e.g. lubricants) are reviewed. The tribological aspects of many of the most common assemblies found in miniature mechanism and electromechanism design are analysed and some practical suggestions are put forward for the rational design of such systems. Also special tribological problems such as those met in computer technology, bioengineering, etc. are presented. The book is intended for tribologists (both seasoned researchers and newcomers) studying the problems of this specific branch of tribology and also for practising engineers active in the design, manufacture and exploitation of various miniature systems.

A significant medical event is expected in 1992: the first human use of a fully implantable, long-term cardiac assist device. This timely volume reviews the artificial heart program-and in particular, the National Institutes of Health's major investment-raising important questions. The volume includes: Consideration of the artificial heart versus heart transplantation and other approaches to treating end-stage heart disease, keeping in mind the different outcomes and costs of these treatments. A look at human issues, including the number of people who may require the artificial heart, patient quality of life, and other ethical and societal questions. Examination of how this technology's use can be targeted most appropriately. Attention to achieving access to this technology for all those who can benefit from it. The committee also offers three mechanisms to aid in allocating research and development funds.