Heart transplants save the lives of more than 2,100 Americans every year. But many more patients are still waiting for a new heart to become available, and hundreds will die without ever getting a second chance at life.

With that being said researchers are asking the question, “will heart transplants become a thing of the past?” Will technology become the answer? Yes and perhaps were the answers!

The HeartMate II is an example of this technology. It is the size of a D-cell battery, with a tube that pokes through the skin and connects to a battery pack. It aids in pumping blood through the body as patients hearts fail.

The HeartMate device has since been approved for use by the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) in April of 2008.

via Science Daily

Post from: Blisstree

Heart transplants to become obsolete?

Thoratec Corp. has received approval from the Food and Drug Administration to use its HeartMate II heart pump to help advanced-stage heart failure patients survive while awaiting heart transplants.

Until now some heart transplant recipients were not able to receive pumps due to size and gender. The hopes for the new pump is it’s ease of implantation

via East Bay Business Times 

Post from: Blisstree

HeartMate II pump approved by FDA