Artificial Heart Offers Hope To Those On Transplant List

The first transplant of this type of Artificial Heart has been completed by biomedical firm Carmat.

A French biomedical firm Carmat, have successfully transplanted an artificial heart in a 75 year old patient. The 900 gram device, which Cardiac surgeon Alain Carpentier has spent over 25 years developing could be a saving grace for the nearly 100,000 people in Europe and the United States who are in need of a heart transplant. The device is a self-contained unit which is powered by a belt of lithium batteries that the patient will wear, is made up of “biomaterials” and an array of sensors to mimic contractions of a real heart.

Artificial hearts have been in use for years, however the latest design from Carmat aims to provide a longer lasting heart so patients can get on with their lives whilst waiting for a donor heart. If this device is successful patients could return home and even go back to work whilst waiting for their own donor heart. Surgeon and designer of the artificial heart Alain Carpentier said he grateful to the patient for taking part in the trial of the new artificial heart. Although it is in early stages the patient of recovery doctors said that the operation went well, and although he is not up and walking yet they hope to have him sitting up and hopefully standing not long after that.

In this first phase of the trial of the new artificial heart a group of terminal patients will be selected to receive the new long lasting artificial heart, with assessments to be taken after one month of the operation or earlier if the patient receives a natural heart. The first phase of the trial will commence within the next couple of weeks according to Alain Carpentier.

Thank you to News.com.au for providing us with this information.

Image courtesy News.com.au.