A Totally Implantable Ventricular Assist Device for End-Stage Heart Disease

Over the past decade, notable progress has been made in the development of circulatory support devices, covering the spectrum from “partial” to “total” artificial hearts and from temporary to permanent application [1–4]. Pneumatically powered ventricular assist pumps have emerged from the laboratory to be used in clinical trials with increasing success, primarily in the treatment of postcardiotomy patients with profound left heart failure [5–9]. An air-driven biventricular replacement device has recently been employed in a patient with end-stage cardiomyopathy, prolonging life for 112 days [10].