The thoracic unit, weighing about two pounds, includes two artificial ventricles with their corresponding valves and a motor-driven hydraulic pumping system. The implantable electronics package monitors and controls the pumping speed of the heart based on the physiologic needs of the patient. The AbioCor operates on both internal and external lithium batteries. The internally implanted battery is continually recharged from an external console or from a basic patient-carried external battery pack. This is achieved with an energy transfer device called TET (transcutaneous energy transmission). The TET system consists of internal and external coils that are used to transmit power across the skin. Because tubes or wires do not pierce the skin, the chances of developing an infection are decreased. External battery packs can power the AbioCor for approximately 4 hours.

The AbioCor System has two main components: the implantable parts, consisting of the Thoracic Unit (Replacement Heart), battery, controller, and the TET, and the external parts, consisting of the console and the Patient-Carried Electronics (PCE) such as the battery and bag, control module and external TET.