About Careers MedBlog Contact us
Medindia LOGIN REGISTER
Advertisement

Swiss Scientists Develop Artificial Heart Muscle to Tackle Atrial Fibrillation

by Gopalan on September 16, 2008 at 11:20 AM
Font : A-A+

 Swiss Scientists Develop Artificial Heart Muscle to Tackle Atrial Fibrillation

Swiss scientists have developed an artificial heart muscle that could prove a boon to people suffering from atrial fibrillation, a debilitating heart rhythm disorder.

It occurs when the upper chambers of the heart are out of sync - resulting in a dangerously fast heart beat.

Advertisement

Although not fatal, it can cause fainting, heart failure and blood clots, increasing the risk of stroke.

Common atrial fibrillation treatments include drugs, surgery, electrotherapy or a pacemaker.

The new device is a micro motorless pump (Atripump) based on artificial muscle technology positioned on the external surface of the atrium could compress the heart chamber, restoring atrium transportfunction, scientists say.
Advertisement

This artificial muscle pump can reproduce the mechanical effect of a normal human atrium. It is compact and reliable.

Dr Piergiorgio Tozzi, a cardiac surgeon at Vaudois University Hospital in Lausanne, Switzerland, said he developed the Atripump for patients who do not respond well to existing treatments.

The device is made of a domed membrane embedded with wires made from nitinol, a metal alloy used in spectacle frames and internal tubes.

The wires shrink when a small current passes through them, causing the dome to contract, New Scientist magazine reports.

When the current is off, the wires relax and the dome expands. The two-inch wide device is powered by an internal battery that can be topped up outside the body.

Dr Tozzi said the swelling and contraction of the dome could stop the heart from beating too fast. Although several years from being tested on people, experts believe the Atripump offers hope to patients.

Around 500,000 Britons suffer from atrial fibrillation, including former Prime Minister Tony Blair.

However, the British Heart Foundation has questioned whether the device would be any more effective than a pacemaker, a device that uses electrical impulses, delivered by electrodes contacting the heart muscles, to regulate the beating of the heart.

Source: Medindia
GPL/L
Advertisement

Advertisement
Advertisement

Recommended Reading

Latest Heart Disease News

 Delay in Seeking Care Results in 55% of Cardiac Deaths in India
The first community-based study, published in the journal Lancet, says that delays in seeking care account for nearly 55% of the reported cardiac and stroke deaths in India.
The Surprising Impact of Quit Smoking: 36% Lower Cardiovascular Risk
The study emphasizes the existing proof on the heart disease risks of tobacco smoking and the urgent need to stop smoking among cancer survivors.
 Discovering Genetic Risks for Type of Heart Attack Largely Affecting Younger Women
New study findings provide novel pathophysiological insights involving blood vessel integrity and tissue-mediated coagulation in a type of heart attack in young women.
Unlocking the Crystal Ball: Heart Failure Subtypes Helps Forecast Future Risks!
Recent study identifies five heart failure subtypes with the potential for individual patient risk prediction.
Is CT Scan the Best Way to Predict Heart Disease Risk?
In middle-age patients, CT scan identifies people who may benefit from drugs to decrease heart disease risk, stated study.
View All
This site uses cookies to deliver our services.By using our site, you acknowledge that you have read and understand our Cookie Policy, Privacy Policy, and our Terms of Use  Ok, Got it. Close
×

Swiss Scientists Develop Artificial Heart Muscle to Tackle Atrial Fibrillation Personalised Printable Document (PDF)

Please complete this form and we'll send you a personalised information that is requested

You may use this for your own reference or forward it to your friends.

Please use the information prudently. If you are not a medical doctor please remember to consult your healthcare provider as this information is not a substitute for professional advice.

Name *

Email Address *

Country *

Areas of Interests