Artificial Bioprosthetic Imitates the Natural Heart

The Carmat artificial heart consists of an implantable prosthesis, connection components to an electric power supply, and external systems. The prosthesis itself consists of two, right and left, ventricular cavities containing two volume spaces each separated by a flexible biomembrane, one for blood and one for the actioning fluid. Through hydraulic action via two miniature motorized pump sets, the actioning fluid displaces the biomembrane, beating at the same rate as a native heart would, thus reproducing the movement of the ventricular wall of the human heart during contraction. The movement causes admission and ejection of blood under optimal conditions.

During the postoperative period or in follow-up consultations, the hospital console is the energy source for the heart, enabling doctors to obtain a detailed status report on the functioning of the prosthesis and physiological parameters measured. Independent operation is based on lithium-ion batteries that enable patients to return home with a portable system carried on a trolley or on the patient’s shoulder. Second generation wearable fuel cells weighing less than 3 kg are currently under development, which will provide the device with independent operation for over 12 hours.

The Carmat artificial heart is under development by Carmat (Vélizy Villacoublay, France), and has obtained the approval of four international cardiac surgery centers, St Pierre University Hospital (Brussels, Belgium), the Silesian Center for Heart Disease (Zabrze, Poland), the Prince Sultan Cardiac Center (Riyadh, Saudi Arabia), and the University Medical Centre Ljubljana (Slovenia) to proceed with the first clinical implantations of its bioprosthetic total artificial heart.

“The patient selection process and the training of the clinical teams are ongoing in these four countries,” said Marcello Conviti, CEO of Carmat. “Implantations could start shortly following the completion of the training. Carmat expects to receive additional approvals in a near future, potentially in France and in other countries.”

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