抄録
Recently it is becoming more and more realistic to have a totally implantable cardiac prosthesis. Since this system involves a power system, an implantable feedback sensor and a mechanical driving system, it is easy to predict the needed technologies for this and other implantable artificial organs. 1. Power delivery: (i) Continuous delivery of up to 50 watts is possible in a transcutaneous fashion for over 5 years. (ii) Implantable batteries that may be recharged up to 1000 times are feasible. (iii) Management of heat packages up to 1, 000°C are possible. (iv) Implantable packages of the above mentioned systems are already available. 2. Implantable sensor: (i) Implantable intrinsic sensors such as position sensor are developed and have proven to be feasible. (ii) Reliable implantable extrinsic sensors such as glucose or oxygen sensors are not available to guarantee a continuous reliable operation of implantable systems. 3. Diagnostic system for a totally implantable system: (i) Transcutaneous transmission of diagnostic signal is feasible. (ii) Either direct or telemetrized diagnostic signal processing is feasible. 4. Implantable artificial organ system: (i) Mechanical or hydraulic system have already been proven feasible. (ii) Feasibility of chemical systems are currently difficult to establish. Thus, if only electro-mechanical or electro-hydraulic systems are involved, a totally implantable artificial organ which can function up to 2 years is possible. However, in order to develop any metabolic regulating artificial organs, there are many technical problems which still exist before for possible clinical implantation. Unconventional approaches are necessary for this type of metabolic implantable artificial organs.
