Artificial organs
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The use of mechanical circulatory support to treat patients with congestive heart failure has grown enormously, recently surpassing the number of annual heart transplants worldwide. The current generation of left ventricular assist devices (LVADs), as compared with older devices, is characterized by improved technologies and reduced size. ⋯ The miniaturization of LVADs will continue, so that minimally invasive techniques will be used for most implantations in the future. In this article, we summarize and describe minimally invasive state-of-the-art implantation techniques, with a focus on the most common LVAD systems in adults.
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Articular cartilage has a limited capacity for spontaneous repair, and an effective method to repair damaged articular cartilage has not yet been established. The purpose of this study was to evaluate the effect of transplantation of porous hydroxyapatite collagen (HAp/Col) impregnated with bone morphogenetic protein-2 (BMP-2). To evaluate the characteristics of porous HAp/Col as a drug delivery carrier of recombinant human BMP-2 (rhBMP-2), the rhBMP-2 adsorption capacity and release kinetics of porous HAp/Col were analyzed. ⋯ The histological regeneration score of defects treated with 25 μg of rhBMP-2 increased up to 6 weeks after implantation, but then decreased. Porous HAp/Col, therefore, is an appropriate carrier for rhBMP-2. Implantation of porous HAp/Col impregnated with rhBMP-2 is effective for rigid subchondral bone repair, which is important for the repair of the smooth articular surface.