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.

Aorta
The large arterial trunk that carries blood from the heart to be distributed by branch arteries through the body.

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

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. Console The part of the system that drives the blood pumps, thus allowing the blood to flow through its normal cycle. The console is powered by electricity and has a back up battery.

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. Left atrium Receives oxygen enriched blood from the lungs and passes this on to the left ventricle. Left ventricle Receives blood from the left atrium and pumps it up to the aorta, supplying the entire body with blood.

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. Pulmonary artery Receives blood from the right ventricle and passes it to the lungs where it is enriched with oxygen.

RVAD
Right Ventricular Assist Device.

Right atrium
Receives oxygen depleted blood from the body and passes it on to the right ventricle.

Right ventricle
Receives blood from the right atrium and pumps it through the pulmonary artery into the lungs where it is enriched with oxygen.

VAD
Ventricular Assist Device. A ventricular assist device (VAD) is a battery-operated, mechanical pump-type device that is surgically implanted. It helps maintain the pumping ability of a heart that cannot effectively work on its own.

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