For mostPeople with heart failureThe implantable artificial heart pump is a promising treatment option. However, this medical aid often comes with risks. In fact, 4 out of 5 patients develop serious complications such as bleeding or stroke within 2 years of implantation. The French company CorWave is developing a novel membrane pump technology to reduce such complications and improve care for heart patients.
Novel artificial heart pump as an implant
Partly funded by the EU, the company's groundbreaking project is the first of its kind. It demonstrates the synchronization of a pump with your own heart over 30 days. By combining this unique capability with exceptional blood compatibility, the artificial heart pump could dramatically reduce the serious adverse side effects associated with current therapies. At the same time, the device also improves patients' quality of life and ability to carry out normal daily activities. Previous complications most likely occur because today's implantable heart pumps cannot reproduce the pulsating movement of the heart. The new technology is distinguished by its groundbreaking wave membrane, which is inspired by the undulating movement of aquatic animals. In contrast to current devices, this can generate a natural pulse. It also mimics the blood flow rates and pressure of a healthy heart.
During the tests carried out, the new heart pump synchronized its pulse beats with the native heart without the help of sensors. The device also successfully detected over 97% of heartbeats. This is the first time that a miniaturized artificial heart pump has achieved this synchronization. This study is an important step that will enable the developers to make their next-generation device available to patients with advanced heart failure. In fact, they have shown that this pump is capable of working in synchrony with the native heart. This redefines the state of the art in the field of mechanical circulatory support bythe projecthas achieved what current devices cannot.
