TITANIUM AS A PACEMAKER

INTRODUCTION

-The pacemaker is one of the cardiovascular devices that uses titanium. It is an electronic biomedical device that can regulate the human heartbeat when its natural regulating mechanisms break down. - It is a small box surgically implanted in the chest cavity and has electrodes that are in direct contact with the heart. - In a normal functioning heart, the pumping action is synchronized by the pacemaker region of the heart, or sinoatrial node, which is located in the right atrium. - Unfortunately, the natural pacemaker can malfunction, leading to abnormal heartbeats. Electronic pacemakers are designed to supplement the heart's own natural controls and to regulate the beating heart when these break down. -

HISTORY

- Paul Zoll in 1952, developed the first pacemaker, was a portable version of a cardiac resuscitator. (Portable) -C.Walton Lillehei made a pacemaker that had leads attached directly to the outer wall of the heart. Later, in 1958, a battery was added as the power source. (Portable) - William Chardack and Wilson Greatbatch invented the first implantable pacemaker. It was implanted in a living patient in 1960.

- The modern technique for putting a pacemaker into a patient's heart was developed by Seymour Furman.
- By the late 1960s most cardiac specialists had switched to Furman's endocardial pacemakers. - Since then improvements have been made in their design, including smaller pacemaker devices, longer lasting batteries, and computer controls.

MATERIALS USED TO MAKE PACEMAKERS

-The materials used to construct artificial pacemakers must be nontoxic, sterilisable, and able to function in the environmental conditions of the body.

-The various parts of the pacemaker, including the casing, microelectronics, and the leads, are all made with biocompatible materials.
-Typically, the casing is made of titanium or a titanium alloy. The lead is also made of a metal alloy, but it is insulated by a polymer such as polyurethane. - Only the metal tip of the lead is exposed. The circuitry is usually made of modified silicon semiconductors.

DESIGN OF AN ARTIFICIAL PACEMAKER

Many types of pacemakers are available. Despite this vast array of models, all pacemakers are essentially composed of a battery, lead wires, and circuitry.

The primary function of a pacemaker battery is to store enough energy to stimulate the heart with a jolt of electricity. Additionally, it also provides power to the sensors and timing devices. Pacemaker leads are thin, insulated wires that are designed to carry electricity between the battery and the heart. With the constant beating of the heart, these wires are chronically flexed and must be resistant to fracture. There are many styles of leads available, with primary design differences found at the exposed end.

The circuitry is the control center of the pacemaker. Located here are heart monitoring sensors, voltage regulators, timing circuits, and externally programmable controls. The circuitry is composed primarily of resistors, capacitors, diodes, and semiconductors.

PROCESS OF MAKING THE ARTIFICIAL PACEMAKER

Pacemakers are sophisticated electronic devices. The construction of a pacemaker is not a linear process but an integrated one. Component parts such as the battery, leads, and the circuitry are constructed individually, then pieced together to form the final product.

Making of the battery

Making the leads

Making of the motherboard

Final assembly

ROLE OF TITANIUM IN THE PACEMAKER

- The use of titanium or titanium alloy covering cardiac pacemakers is well known.
- Some pacemakers are sealed in the titanium housing while some are in capsulated in polymers and titanium housing is merely shielding. Whenever titanium or a titanium alloy is exposed to the body fluids there is a possibility that a galvanic cell and galvanic corrosion may occur in conjunction with any other implanted metals in the body.

- Moreover, the release of titanium into the tissues surrounding the implant may at times occur.

- In those instances where the titanium housing forms a part of the stimulating circuit there may be problems of skeletal muscle stimulation whenever the pacemaker is placed close to contractal tissue.

CONCLUSION

With the increasing numbers of senior citizen, it is anticipated that a greater percentage of the population will require pacemakers. As researches continue, future devices promise to be longer lasting, more reliable, and more versatile. In general, it can be safely said that the use of titanium as the construction material for prosthetic heart valves has been very successful these days. There have been virtually no fractures or mechanical failures to date In the future, however we might see valves made of special hard titanium alloys, coated with materials that are wear resistant and perhaps also blood compatible. As a conclusion, we believe that titanium is the best alloy to be used as a cardiovascular device. It is because of all the advantages it has. However there are religious controversies regarding their use. But, if we weigh it, it would be the greatest metal to be used.

REFERENCE

1) Lyle D. Zardiackas, Matthew J. Kraay, Howard L. Freese (2006).Titanium, Niobium, Zirconium, and Tantalum for Medical and Surgical Applications. 2) M. Michaelson, James C. Lin (1987).Biological effects and health implications of radiofrequency radiation 3) Christoph Leyens, Manfred Peters (2003).Titanium and Titanium Alloys: Fundamentals And Applications. 4) Pacemaker. http://books.google.com/books?id=x8_nzsptt4yc&pg=pa323&dq=how+ti taniu#v=onepage&q&f=false 5) Advantages and Disadvantages of Titanium. http://books.google.com/books?id=ukvnhfpghaoc&pg=pa287&dq=advan tages+and+disadvantages+of+titanium&hl=en&ei=xcdltuflozdnrqf3ruh9c q&sa=x&oi=book_result&ct=result&resnum=8&ved=0ce4q6aewbw#v=o nepage&q=advantages%20and%20disadvantages%20of%20titanium&f=f alse 6) Application of Titanium in Medical Field. http://books.google.com/books?hl=en&lr&id=txwy1ghrkhoc&oi=fnd&pg =pa2&dq=properties+of+titanium+as+cardiovascular+devices&ots=ik2a1 kp7xa&sig=kqd5mzpqvltqycz0-qvb-k1txs#v=onepage&q=properties%20of%20titanium%20as%20cardiovascular %20devices&f=false

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