CARMAT Bioprosthetic Total Human Heart Replacement
CARMAT (of Velizy Villacoublay, France) announced today that its bioprosthetic total artificial heart is now scheduled to be trialed for the first time in human patients at four medical centers in Europe and Middle East.
(CARMAT Bioprosthetic Total Human Heart video)
The CARMAT heart is intended to be used as an end-stage device, completely replacing the patient’s own and hopefully avoiding the many complications of transplantation.
The artificial heart consists of two cavities, mimicking the organ’s ventricles, which are separated by a moving membrane that’s hydraulically powered via a special actioning fluid. This membrane reproduces the action of the ventricular wall during contractions, creating blood flow in and out of the device. The system is works in conjunctions with sensors and a microcontroller that continuously adjust the activity of the prosthesis to match the needs of the patient.
Fans of writer Philip K. Dick will certainly recall the artif-orgs from his 1964 novel Cantata 140:
George Walt's corporate existence proved the workability of wholly mechanical organs...
"...if they keep after me, or if they won't make a deal regarding artif-org construction - then it'll be necessary to do something.
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