C-Pulse Cuff, New Heart Device Is Very Promising

Lauza Legere is the first Canadian to be fitted with a novel heart- assisting device called the C-Pulse Cuff, which is part of a clinical trial at The McGill University Health Centre in Montreal. The device was implanted in December and can effectively reduce the risk of stroke.

The C-Pulse is implanted outside the aorta, unlike other heart pumps which are implanted inside the aorta for a short period of time. A cuff is also sewn around the critical heart valve. A balloon-type structure inside the cuff helps maintain the blood flow by inflating and deflating rhythmically.

Dr. Renzo Cecere, director of the mechanical heart assist program and surgical director of the heart failure and heart transplant program at the McGill centre, said,  "The traditional pumps that we've been using has blood that circulates within the pump itself and the pump propels the blood. This new class of device has no contact with the blood itself, so that represents a huge advantage in that the risk of blood clotting within the pump does not exist because there's no contact. The risk of stroke with this device is essentially eliminated."

Other benefits of the C-Pulse is that it obliterates the need for blood thinners. Further, the pump is connected to a battery pack worn on the waist, therefore it can be disconnected while swimming or bathing.



Source-Medindia