First human artificial heart transplant executed in France

An artificial heart that can give patients up to five years of extra life has been successfully implanted for the first time, at Georges Pompidou Hospital in Paris, France. The equipment designed to overcome the worldwide shortage of transplant donors was produce by French Biomedical firm Carmat, a start-up funded by the Dutch-based European Aeronautic Defense and Space Company (EADS).

About Artificial Heart

• Powered by external, wearable Lithium-ion batteries.
• Inside the heart, surfaces that come into contact with human blood are made partly from bovine tissue instead of synthetic materials such as plastic that can cause blood clots.
• Uses a range of “biomaterials”, including bovine tissue, to reduce the likelihood of the body rejecting it.
• Weighs about 900g (around 2 lb) – nearly three times more than an average healthy human heart. It is expected to cost 140,000 to 180,000 euros in Europe.
• It mimics heart muscle contractions and contains sensors that adapt the blood flow to the patient’s moves.
• Intended to replace a real heart for as many as five   years, unlike previous artificial hearts that were created mainly for temporary use.

Month: Current Affairs - December, 2013

Category: Science & Technology Current Affairs