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The isolated heart project continues to evolve from
a joint collaboration established in 1997 between the University
of Minnesota and Medtronic, Inc. Paul
A. Iaizzo, Ph.D., Professor of Surgery Physiology who is also
the Director for Education of the Lillehei
Heart Institute, worked in partnership with biomedical engineers
at Medtronic, Inc., to produce a large mammalian isolated beating
heart. This ongoing research collaboration has resulted in a working
four chamber isolated cardiac model that can simulate in situ
physiological cardiac function. This beating heart model has provided
an opportunity to simultaneously capture internal images of a
working heart on video while recording various physiological parameters,
such as; electrical potentials, pressure volume changes, ejection
fractions, flows, etc. The Visible Heart® model is considered
an invaluable tool in understanding the relationship between the
dynamics of a beating heart and existing and emerging biomedical
therapies.
In November, 2000 an interactive CD-ROM containing
Visible Heart® images was jointly released by the University
of Minnesota and Medtronic, Inc. and distributed to physicians worldwide.
The demonstration version was produced with the aid of the University
of Minnesota’s New Product Design and Business Development
Team, a collaboration of students from the Institute of Technology
and the Carlson School of Management. The completed multimedia
textbook contains over 150 internal and external images of beating
hearts including numerous internal human heart images. In addition
to cardiac anatomy, topics discussed include cardiovascular diseases
and treatments and related device choices supplemented with still
heart photographs and animations to further the learning experience.
HISTORICAL SIGNIFICANCE: The Visible Heart® laboratory is currently located in the Department of Surgery’s laboratories in which Dr. C. Walton Lillehei performed many of his pioneering cardiovascular research studies, including those with Earl Bakken that led to the founding of Medtronic, Inc. in Minnesota. Recently, Earl Bakken has made several visits to the laboratory to discuss past experiences and current interests with laboratory staff and students. During his most recent visit, the laboratory honored Earl with a plaque that was placed outside the entrance to the lab to commemorate his pioneering efforts that created the medical device industry as we know it today.
The isolated four chamber working heart model provides a useful environment for:
 1) Identifying general pathophysiology (congenital defect, atherosclerosis, valvular defect, etc)
2) Performing comparative anatomical studies of functioning hearts
3) Observing device interactions (leads, catheter, valves, stents, septal occLuders, etc.)
4) Obtaining simultaneous external and internal images and comparative image analysis (flouroscope, echo, intracardiac)
5) Education of physicians and/or students (via visiting the lab, utilizing live-web cast capabilities or creation of educational materials)
6) Recording specific electrical properties e.g., (utilizing EP catheters, external electrograms, leads and/or non-contact mapping systems)
7) Studying cardioplegia and myocardial protection
8) Investigating pharmacological effects (e.g. anesthetics, cardoprotective agent and/or cathecholamines)
To date; human, swine, mini-swine, canine and ovine hearts have been reanimated in this apparatus.
An interactive display is currently located at the Science Museum of Minnesota.
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