Angiogram - A series of x-rays of the blood vessels in the heart taken in rapid sequence following the injection of a contrast substance into the blood stream.

Arteries - The thick, muscular tubes that carry blood away from the heart.

Atria - The upper chambers of the heart. Oxygen-poor blood travels from the right atrium to the right ventricle and out to the lungs. Oxygen-rich blood travels from the left atrium to the left ventricle and out to the body.

Bi-VAD - Bi-Ventricular Assist Device.

Blood clots - The conversion of blood into a semisolid gel.

Blood thinner - Medication used to prevent blood clots or keep the blood in a liquid form. (for example, Coumadin®)

Blood vessels - An extensive network of flexible tubes that carries blood to and from the heart and throughout the body. The blood vessels are the transportation system of the body. The blood vessels include arteries, capillaries, and veins.

CABG - (pronounced "Cabbage") Coronary Artery Bypass Grafting. A heart surgery procedure that treats the symptoms of coronary artery disease. CABG surgery reroutes (or 'bypasses') the blood flow around the blockages in the coronary arteries, restoring blood flow to the heart muscle itself.

Cannulae - tubes that connect the heart and blood vessels to the pump.

Coronary Heart Disease (CHD) - A disease in which plaque deposits containing cholesterol atherosclerosis and fat globules are deposited within the arteries.

Ejection Fraction(EF) - A measure of how efficient the heart is able to eject blood from the ventricles to the rest of the body. Ejection fraction is expressed in percentages.

Intravenous lines - A drug, nutrient solution, or other substance administered into a vein.

Ischemic - A decrease in the blood and oxygen supply to an organ or tissue in the body.

LVAD - Left Ventricular Assist Device.

Myocardial infarction - Damage or death of myocardial tissue (heart muscle) as a result of decreased blood flow.

Myocardial revascularization - Restoring blood flow to the myocardium (heart muscle).

Paracorporeal - Refers to "outside the body", describes the location of the ABIOMED Ventricular Assist Device lying on top of the abdomen.

Perfusion scan - A test to determine blood flow through the vessels to the heart.

RVAD - Right Ventricular Assist Device.

VAD - Ventricular Assist Device.

Valves - Flap-like structures that maintain blood flow in one direction only, through the heart and pump.

Ventricles - The lower chambers of the heart. The right ventricle pumps oxygen-poor blood through the pulmonary artery and to the lungs. The left ventricle pumps oxygen-rich blood through the aorta and to the rest of the body.