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Cardiology

Implantable Electric Heart Pump in Development at Cleveland Clinic

Strategic Insights

— 1 min read

Researchers at the Cleveland Clinic are developing an implantable electric heart pump, the right-ventricular assist device, or RVAD, in the hopes of reducing the need for heart transplants. The device is expected to work in conjunction with the Clinic's successful CorAide LVAD, which improves pumping in the heart's left side. The development of this implantable pump aims to address the shortage of heart donors, as currently, only 2,400 heart transplants are performed in the United States each year, despite 25,000 to 50,000 people needing the surgery.

Key Takeaways:

  • The implantable electric heart pump, RVAD, is being developed by a biomedical engineering team at the Cleveland Clinic as a potential substitute for heart transplants.
  • The device would work in tandem with the Clinic's successful CorAide LVAD, which improves pumping in the heart's left side.
  • The development of the RVAD is funded by a 5-year, nearly $7 million grant from the National Institutes of Health.
  • The RVAD would address the shortage of heart donors, as currently, only 2,400 heart transplants are performed in the United States each year, despite 5 million Americans having congestive heart failure.
  • The implantable pump would allow patients to move around freely, unlike current bedside devices that require patients to be constantly attached to a stationary machine.
  • Unlike after a heart transplant, the pumps would not require patients to take anticoagulants or immune-suppression drugs, but may result in complications from infection due to the foreign material used in the implants.
  • The development of the RVAD is led by Kiyotaka Fukamachi, MD, at the Clinic's Cardiovascular Dynamics Laboratory, along with co-investigator Leonard Golding, MD.

Statistics:

  • 25,000 to 50,000 people in the United States need heart transplants each year.
  • Only 2,400 heart transplants are performed in the United States each year.
  • 5 million Americans have congestive heart failure.
  • The National Institutes of Health is funding the development of the RVAD with a 5-year, nearly $7 million grant.

Sources:

  • "Researchers Develop Implantable Heart Pump" by Heart Disease Weekly editors, copyright 2004, Heart Disease Weekly via NewsRx.com & NewsRx.net.

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