Heart of Carbon (eBook)

This book offers a historical account of the development of the On-X carbon mechanical heart valve, discussing the steps involved in developing the materials, and describes how the design of the valve has evolved over the years. It explores both the scientific and corporate problems researchers have encountered over the years in the journey of making a mechanical heart valve. The chapters provide a detailed description of the design of the mechanical leaflet-based prosthetic valve, with a particular focus on blood flow characteristics. This book includes an overview of the state-of-the-art in the chemistry and physics of carbon, and compiles the advances in carbon-based technology and its applications in cardiac and thoracic surgery.

This is an ideal book for bioengineers working on the chemistry and physics of carbon, and other professionals involved with cardiac and thoracic surgery.

Dr. Jack Bokros was employed as a Senior Research Engineer at Atomics International from 1955 to 1958. In 1958, he joined the staff of General Atomic Company to study materials for use in high-temperature gas-cooled reactors. Dr. Bokros received his doctorate at the University of California. He was a member of the Scientific Laboratory Group of the Ford Motor Company in Dearborn, Michigan, where he conducted basic studies of phase transformation in metals, and then in 1963, he rejoined the staff at General Atomic Company in San Diego. During that time, he conducted basic and applied research into the preparation, structure and properties of carbon coatings and graphite and was concerned with the effects of fast neutron irradiation on these materials.  Subsequently, Dr. Bokros conducted basic and applied studies of carbonaceous materials for use in bioengineering.  The commercialization of this activity led to the formation of CarboMedics, Inc. with Bokros as its President.  In 1980, he established two subsidiaries, Intermedics Orthopedics, Inc. and Calcitek, Inc. to commercialize CarboMedic's porous metal, calcium hydroxyapatite, and carbon biomaterial technologies in the orthopedic and dental fields. In 1989, Bokros formed Carbon Implants, Inc., which was acquired by Medtronic, Inc. in 1994. In April of 1994, he formed the Medical Carbon Research Institute to develop advanced multileaflet cardiac valve prostheses incorporating On-X carbon, an improved and patented form of pyrolytic carbon.  In 2007, Medical Carbon Research Institute, LLC was converted to a C-corp and renamed On-X Life Technologies, Inc.