ELECTRICALLY DRIVEN IMPLANTABLE PROSTHESES.

Abstract

Electrically and electronically driven devices available in chemical practice or research stages include devices in the following areas: heart pacing, bone growth and repair, hearing aids, chemical dosing, drug infusion and dispensing, defibrillation, heart assist, nerve stimulation, gut stimulation, artificial larynx, pain suppression, implanted sensors, scoliosis treatment, artificial vision, and artificial heart. This article lists the desired implant instruments, briefly describes the electronic circuit technology and concentrates on some devices, such as the heart pacing systems, cardiac pacing leads, the automatic implantable defibrillator, bone growth and repair stimulators, and developments in the areas of pain control, central nervous system stimulation, implanted drug dispensers, telemetering devices, hearing aids, health assist sensors, and mentions some major manufacturers of implanted heart pacemakers and batteries.