The first ever totally artificial heart (TAH) was successfully implanted in the United States.
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This was reported on the website of the Texas Heart Institute (THI).
The patient received the TAH BiVACOR, a titanium, single-moving biventricular rotary blood pump that uses a magnetically levitated rotor to pump blood and replace both failing ventricles of the heart.
It is noted that the magnetic levitation technology used here is based on the same principle as MAGLEV in high-speed trains. This design is designed to eliminate potential mechanical wear and tear and provide large blood spaces that minimize blood trauma, which is intended to ensure the durability and biocompatibility of this heart substitute.
The device is expected to be able to provide enough blood for an adult male performing physical exercise.
The implantation surgery, which took place on July 9, marks the start of the first human clinical trial of the technology, which aims to evaluate the safety and effectiveness of TAH in patients with severe biventricular heart failure or univentricular heart failure for whom left ventricular assist device support is not recommended.
After the first implantation, four more patients will take part in the study.
The institute notes that heart failure remains the leading cause of death worldwide, so the new technology could be a “ray of hope for countless patients awaiting a heart transplant”:
- Heart failure is a global epidemic, affecting at least 26 million people worldwide and its prevalence is growing. However, each year, fewer than 6,000 heart transplants are performed worldwide in people with severe heart failure;
- The US National Institutes of Health estimates that up to 100,000 patients in the United States and a similar number in Europe could benefit immediately from mechanical circulatory support.
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Source: Racurs
I am David Wyatt, a professional writer and journalist for Buna Times. I specialize in the world section of news coverage, where I bring to light stories and issues that affect us globally. As a graduate of Journalism, I have always had the passion to spread knowledge through writing.