Meeting With THORATEC In The Flesh,Blood And Titanium (and Richard Gere too)

THORATEC (THOR) the maker of the HEARTMATE ll LVAD had sent word to me that they have seen my blog and complimented it. THOR has always been professionally approachable with any question, concern or idea that I had. Then my wife and I received a message that THORATEC wanted to meet with me - flesh, blood and titanium. We were quite honored and a time and place was set. A small and quaint Manhattan Italian restaurant.

We met at dinner and the THOR representative (he plays a visionary role within the ranks of THOR) truly took his time to listen to an LVAD recipient and shared some innovative info that continues to show that THORATEC IS A CARING COMPANY that constantly pushes the envelope on LVAD technology and LVAD recipient comfort. The dinner lasted 4 hours.


At the restaurant where the dinner-meeting was set, were Richard Gere, the actor, and his wife Carrie Lowell, eating dinner. When it was time for us to leave, the THORATEC representative went to get his coat and accidentally tried to give Gere's wife his coat-claim ticket and a tip. She rejected his gesture and walked back to her table and husband. Apparently she was returning from the restroom that was near to the coat-check closet. It was too funny! An honest mistake.

Then we walked the THOR rep to his hotel...almost a mile away. We said our goodbyes and my wife and I (powered by the Heartmate ll) walked back to our truck which was parked by the restaurant. We had an outstanding and memorable evening and a brief encounter with Richard Gere and his wife.

We know we are in good hands with a company like THORATEC.

And the good saga continues...

LVAD AWARENESS for Paramedics/EMT/EMS Ambulance Companies. 911 PROTOCOL?

Currently i am visiting online emergency services forums. Most are unaware of how to treat an LVAD patient. They do not know that LVAD recipients do not have a pulse or a "readable" blood pressure. However, they are all eager to learn.

The Heartmate ll made by THORATEC is the first CONTINUOUS FLOW DEVICE. It has only one moving part making it more reliable. Since it is a continuous flow design, the blood is in constant flow as opposed to the native heart beating that creates the pulse. The Heartmate ll is approved by the FDA for use in the USA for Bridge To Transplant (BTT) and Destination Therapy (DT) patients.

THE SCENARIO:

A 911 call is made from a cell phone at a mall. A male patient collapses and seems too sluggish to move. An ambulance is immediately dispatched to the location. The paramedics arrive and find the patient sitting on the floor with his wife by his side. The male patient is conscious and answers the questions the paramedics ask.

He states he became dizzy and passed out. The patient continues to say that he has a left ventricular assist device (LVAD) implanted and grafted to his heart. The LVAD helps pump oxygen-enriched blood that his damaged heart can not do. The male patient also claims that due to the design of the LVAD, basic equipment WILL NOT detect his Blood Pressure nor Pulse.

Only special Doppler equipment will detect his vitals.

It appears that the patient has lost color and is sweating. What next? There is a titanium heart/blood pump implanted to his heart. If needed, are chest compressions dangerous for this patient? The answer is YES! It can cause the LVAD to dislodge from the heart and the patient can internally bleed.

I am a 47 yo male with an LVAD implant. I DON'T HAVE the conventionally found Blood Pressure and I do not have a Pulse, However I am alive and well and I am trying to raise awareness of 911/EMT/LVAD PROTOCOL and to obtain more info from the experts on how to spread this crucial topic. It is predicted that the LVAD will be as common as dialysis.

So it is imperative that our 1st responders should be "user-friendly" with LVAD recipients especially when most LVAD recipients are leading mobile and normal lives.

Thank you

and the good saga continues...

My HEARTMATE ll: The Creed of an LVAD Recipient

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Dedicated to the entire SURGICAL & LVAD TEAM and nurses at NYP.

Especially for Margaret, Rosie, Jennifer, Khristine, Donna,

Dr Bijou, Dr Naka & Dr Takayama

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My Rifle: The Creed of a US Marine
by Major General William H. Rupertus USMC, Ret.
(written following the attack on Pearl Harbor)

has been adapted for the respect of a

HEARTMATE ll LVAD and the Recipient.

My HEARTMATE ll: The Creed of an LVAD Recipient

This is my HEARTMATE ll. There are many like it, but this one is mine.

My HEARTMATE ll is my best friend. It is my life. I must master it as I must master my life.

My HEARTMATE ll, without me, is useless. Without my HEARTMATE ll , I am useless. I must use my HEARTMATE ll honest & true. I must remain more diligent in diet and form than my enemies that attack my health and heart. I must act before it acts upon me. I will...

My HEARTMATE ll and myself know that what counts in this war is not only the blood that pumps and flows, the progress or setbacks, We know it is also for the general good of future generations that count. We will...

My HEARTMATE ll is human, even as I, because it is my life. Thus, I will learn it as a brother. I will learn its weaknesses, its strength, its parts, its accessories, its purpose and its flow. I will ever guard it against the ravages of weather and damage as I will ever guard my legs, my arms, my eyes and my heart against damage. I will keep my HEARTMATE ll clean from bacteria and have the spare equal and ready. We will become part of each other. We will...

Before God, I swear this creed. My HEARTMATE ll and myself are the defenders of my well-being. We are the masters of our enemies. We are the saviors of my life.

So be it, until victory is achieved and there is no enemy, but peace and a healthier life!

and the good saga continues...

The FUTURE PROVIDES THE WIRELESS LVAD/Reducing Infection and Mortality.

2 Informative PDF files explaining the WIRELESS LVAD:

PDF 1:

A Frequency Control Method for Regulating Wireless Power to Implantable Devices

http://www.tetcor.com/A%20freq%20control%20method%20for%20regulaing%20wireless%20power%20to%20implantable%20devices%20(ping%20si).pdf

PDF 2:
Wireless Power Supply for Implantable Biomedical
Device Based on Primary Input Voltage Regulation

http://www.tetcor.com/Ping%20wp%20paper.pdf

LINK:
Brief but interesting info on TRANSCUTANEOUS as opposed to percutaneous lines: Wireless Technology Sparks New Approach to Powering Implantable Devices

http://www.devicelink.com/mpmn/archive/07/03/009.html


SOME BACKGROUND HISTORY ON THE WIRELESS LVAD ORIGINALLY PUBLISHED IN Transitions" 2002, a Penn State College of Medicine publication and the DESIGN NEWS:

Rosenberg Named 2002 Engineer of the Year

Rosenberg has worked on heart-assist pumps since 1970 when he joined the Penn State research team as a graduate student. He earned his B.S., M.S., and Ph.D. degrees in mechanical engineering from Penn State. U.S. clinical trials began for the Rosenberg team’s implanted Left Ventricular Assist Device (LVAD), manufactured by commercial partner Arrow International, Inc., when in February 2001, Penn State’s Walter E. Pae, Jr., successfully implanted the left ventricular assist system for the first in the United States. Called the Arrow LionHeart™, it is the first LVAD powered by wireless electric transmission.

LionHeart TM is intended to help a large population that is ineligible for transplant and for whom medical therapy has failed. Surgeons in Europe have been implanting the device in clinical trials since 1999. Rosenberg said that LVADs represent less risk to patients, both in surgery and later on. "With an LVAD, if there is a component failure, a patient can still rely temporarily on their own heart until the problem is solved," he said, “and because no wires or tubes protrude through the recipient’s skin, the system reduces the chances for serious infection. LionHeart™ is intended to help this much larger population that is ineligible for transplant and for whom medical therapy has failed.” Rosenberg’s team also has an electro-mechanical total artificial heart that is very close in concept to its LVAD.

Rosenberg has found another commercial partner, Abiomed, Danvers, Massachusetts for this device. Abiomed developed AbioCor, a total artificial heart driven by an electro-hydraulic system that Time magazine called the “2001 invention of the year." Abiomed plans to do clinical trials in 2004 of a smaller version of the Penn State heart, suitable for women and children.

Abiomed CEO David Lederman said of Rosenberg, "Gus is one of the primary contributors to this field, and I have tremendous respect for him. We were competitors,but we also have shared a lot of information over the years"

Here is a more recent photo Dr. Rosenberg. He can still be reached at Penn State University.

And the good saga continues...

LVAD Man? IRON MAN? PEOPLE ASK WHY...

Iron Man?
LVAD Man!
Many people ask why!

For reasons that are not obvious and reasons that are... such as his artificial heart, demeanor and driven strength... Iron Man became a symbol for me and my family.

The Iron Man character is fierce but appropriate. I never saw the movie before ...UNTIL I was in the hospital bed, with the LVAD situation fresh in my mind and the HOSPITAL providing all CCU patients & LVAD recipients with FREE Premium TV and Movies.

The Movie playing at the time was Iron Man... very fierce looking at first, the character in the movie was an ironic comparison and adrenaline raiser for me. The PHOTO below is the 1st Iron Man (Wont tell you too much, not to ruin the movie lol) as the result of being built purely in a dark dingy cave in the middle of nowhere.

I photoshop-ed an American Flag on Iron Man's right arm and the caption.

PHOTO BELOW IS THE KNOWN VERSION OF IRON MAN, tactfully and SURGICALLY CREATED IN THE PROPER ENVIRONS OF A LAB:

And as for me, the hospital was NOT MY dingy cave, MY dingy CAVE was being "under" the weird edgy soreness and stupor of the MEDS and open-heart surgery. MY cave "escape" was post-op when I was allowed to go HOME and conquer my normal and newest tasks once again. Thank you Columbia-Presbyterian Surgery Team, LVAD Nation and Dr Bijou!!!

***IRON MAN 2 PREMIERS MAY 2010***

HERE IS TRAILER FROM 1ST IRON MAN 2009:



and the good saga continues...

ELEPHANTS TRUNK to TRUNK... another LVAD powered blog i found.

I went for an LVAD check up and met a 60-year-old (give or take) LVAD recip ...nice guy. He told me of his LVAD and the heavy old model batteries he uses. His batteries hold a charge of 4 hours whereas the new model lithium batteries hold a charge 12-14+ hours. A full charge on my Thoratec lithium batteries has lasted 18+ hours.

Anywhich, he continued to tell me that he enjoyed coming back to the hospital because he "comes back home" to other LVAD recipients... like elephants separated at birth and are reunited after a lifetime apart coming from a zoo or a circus, etc. I understood what he meant, there is an automatic "family" closeness, a brotherhood/sisterhood bond that materializes...

For a better understanding visit The Elephant Sanctuary in Tennessee, founded in 1995, is the nation's largest natural habitat refuge developed specifically for endangered African and Asian elephants. It operates on 2,700 acres in Hohenwald, Tennessee — 85 miles southwestof Nashville.

http://www.tappedintoelephants.com/asp/index.php

Now this brings me to Mac & Sue's blog. They seem to be one of only a few blogs devoted to LVAD life and advocacy pioneering cyberspace. Mac has the HeartmateII and, in an effort to make life easier for those with the older batteries and LVAS, Mac DESIGNED and BUILT his own lithium batteries... making them much lighter and or smaller with a longer charge life.

Also on their blog are observations of LVAD life and advice.

Finding their blog, I felt like that elephant, coming home to others :-) that the 60-year-old LVAD recipient was describing to me. Check out Sue & Mac's LVAD accessory inventions... I will let them explain it to you here...

http://heartmateii.blogspot.com/

And the good saga continues...

HeartMate® II 75 page PDF DOWNLOAD:

LVAD/Thoratec info/Revision O December 14, 2006:

HeartMate® II LVAS:

Patient Management Guidelines

75 page PDF DOWNLOAD here:

http://www.fda.gov/ohrms/DOCKETS/ac/07/briefing/2007-4333b2-20-%209_4%20HM%20II%20Patient%20Management%20Guidelines.pdf

And the good saga continues...

"Why were you so quiet? It woke me from my sleep!?"

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Perhaps this is a story that words can not do it justice, however i will try because this is Khristine's (from the FAMED "LVAD TEAM" of NYP) favorite story :-)
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It's 3am, my wife sleeps peacefully in bed. It has been months since my surgery; having an LVAD implanted and grafted to my heart. One way or another my wife is always by my side watching my back and watching over our household. Its amazing how she also manages her full-time job in her full schedule. And there she rests, after a full day, she is quietly sleeping.

When we sleep, THORATEC sugggests the LVAD's power source should be plugged into the Power Base Unit (PBU) ...while the PBU is plugged into the wall's electrical outlet. In this mode I can walk up to 20-25 feet with the PBU's power cord before i run out of leash.

Should i need to walk further, I must change my power source over to battery. Now 3:05am wanting to walk further into the livingroom, I need to change the power source and will try not to wake her up.

Now its 3:10am and when switching over to battery, the PBU and the System Controller (that is worn around my waist) will launch high pitched alarms to alert me that there is a brief disconnection and a connection is needed quickly.

However, if you can transfer from PBU to battery in less than 5 seconds, no alarms will sound; all remains quiet.

So in an effort not to disturb my wife's sleep, I slowly remove myself from the bed and exchange power sources in under 5 seconds. No blaring and high pitched alarms. She did not wake up :-)

It wasn't until i was walking outside the bedroom, my wife woke up lunging, startled from the "emptiness" of the bed. She Looked at me and quickly said "Why were you so quiet? It woke me from my sleep!?" And here i was trying to avoid the LOUD alarms not to wake her up but found being quiet... she wakes up too.

My wife, My best Friend, the caregiver always has my back!

and the good saga continues...

The LVAD is a sensible and remarkable option for people with heart falure.

Due to my heart failure my Cardiologist told me i would need a temporary LVAD (left ventricular assist device) to extend my life and lead as normal of a life as possible until my heart transplant. I was classified as a "Bridge to Transplant" patient. Other folks who can not receive a heart transplant may recieve a permanent LVAD under the classification "Destination Therapy".

The LVAD is a titanium pump that does the job of the heart's left ventricle; pumping oxygen enriched blood.

It is implanted behind the ribcage and grafted to the heart.

The pump is a mini jet/turbine motor turning 8,600 +/- revolutions per minute (RPM). Its job is to pump 4 to 7 liters of blood per minute from the left ventricle up to the aorta. The LVAD is powered through a special wire called a driveline that is connected to the pump portion of the LVAD and tracks through the body to an exit point in the lower left or right abdomen.

The driveline wire exits the abdomen and is connected to a system controller/computer that monitors and powers the LVAD. The main functions of the system controller maintain the pump motor's RPM, the amount of blood flow while alerting the LVAD recipient with alarms should something be abnormal or fail. It also stores in depth daily data that can be seen on a home base system monitor or retrieved at the hospital during routine checkups.

The power source of the LVAD is electricity via a household electrical outlet or 2 lithium batteries. The lithium batteries can last up to 16+ hours in an emergency but 12 hours is the recommended use before changing to fully charged batteries.

Each battery weighs close to 1.5 lbs and worn in shoulder-supported holsters.

When at home, but especially asleep, the batteries are removed and the LVAD is plugged into a household electrical outlet. Each time an LVAD recipient leaves his or her home, they must carry at least 2 extra batteries and an extra system controller in the event of rare problems or failures.

As an LVAD recipient, I believe the LVAD is a sensible and remarkable option for people with heart falure. As stated by a cardiologist at NewYork-Presbyterian Hospital, Dr Ulrich Jorde said "...it could save the lives of 10,000 Americans a year."

And it saved mine.

And the good saga continues...

WEAN THE LVAD !

Today I had an appointment at the hospital for my LVAD weaning; it is part of a study I volunteered for. The study showed slight improvement to my native heart's function but not enough to cancel the transplant : ) ...a transplant can take up to 3 years of waiting as i am Blood type O.

I am in very good hands with the LVAD NATION, Big thanks to Rosie, Donna, Khristine, Jennifer and the vacationing Margaret :-)

EARLY MORNING SMILE FROM MY WIFE

is always a nice way to start the day...

In the Lobby of the Hospital geting ready to wean the LVAD : )

and the good saga continues...

HAVE LVAD? WILL CLIMB! Hahaha

EARLY MORNING DEPARTURE WITH BACKPACK OF BACK-UP LVAD EQUIPMENT In The Event That Anything Fails... such as my lithium batteries, LVAD computer controller and other various equipment that sustains my life.

1st stop, my wife, the designated driver takes me to the pharmacy for my refills

ME? I ride shotgun (doctor's orders as my chest wound from the open heart surgery not healed enough in the event that the AIRBAG deploys!) I have about 1 more month before i can drive : )

AT THE PHARMACY, my wife sneaks a photo

TODAY I WANTED TO CLIMB, SO WE FOUND A 30 FOOT MAN MADE "MOUNTAIN" : )

VICTORY! I DID IT! ONCE ATOP, A PERSON BELOW YELLED UP, "ON THE TOP OF THE WORLD!" He didnt know how correct he was... " I replied to him "ALWAYS!" : )

...AND I AM TELLING MY LVAD BROTHERS AND SISTERS THAT THIS HOLSTER-SHIRT MAKES LIFE EASIER : ) THE LITHIUM BATERIES TUCKED OUT OF THE WAY. NO SHOULDER OR BACK STRESS!

WHITE VERSION:

BLACK VERSION:

THESE SHIRTS ALSO COME IN A V-NECK TOO!

SEE THEM AT:

http://www.511tactical.com/

THE LVAD (LEFT VENTRICULAR ASSIST DEVICE) BY: http://www.thoratec.com/

VIDEOS OF THE LVAD FOUND UNDER THE POST CALLED:

LVAD VIDEOS & VIDEO OF MY SURGEON
http://fromthebottomofmylvad.blogspot.com/2010/02/lvad-videos.html

and the good saga continues...

WHOA WOGTECH GETS THIS LVAD EXCITED AND DUSTING OFF HIS EQUIPMENT...IT STARTS AT THE 45 SECOND MARK OF THE VIDEO!

PHOTO ESSAY, BROUGHT TO YOU BY THE LVAD ;)

BEGIN TO TRAIN...

My CENTCOM...

Cold day in NYC, my wife had to work on Sunday...

Proof that we went out last night LOL...

and the good saga continues : )

MEDS THAT LOOK LIKE URANIUM VIALS

YOU DECIDE...

and the good saga continues...

I AM PLUGGED INTO WALL LIKE A TOASTER :) WHEN NOT IN BATTERY MODE

THIS IS WHAT TRAILS ME...

TETHERED & PLUGGED INTO THE WALL... I LOOK DOWN AND SEE

A PRAYING MANTIS : -)

and the good saga continues...

A HEARTY LAUGH! :)

Am I taking this heart issue too far? "HOOF HEARTED" LMAO "who farted?"

And the good saga continues...

LVAD VIDEOS & VIDEO OF MY SURGEON

MY SURGEON DR. NAKA

(APPEARS @ 32 SECONDS OF VIDEO)

GENERAL LVAD INFO

THORATEC HEARTMATE II LVAD

And the good saga continues...

GOD BLESS THE CARE GIVERS!

Valentines Breakfast FOR the Noble and Loving Wife

...an e-Valentines card for my wife :)

In the photo above My wife gave me the Red Spongey Heart : ) AND i gave her Iron Man :)

HAPPY VALENTINES! THANK YOU! Ini Ibig Kita,

I LOVE YOU

One, Two, Three ...LIFT :) Thank you for keeping my spirits lifted :) XOXOXO

And the good saga continues...