A hospital in New zealand had fitted the first ptient with a turbocharger for the heart called C-Pulse.
The special device is designed to help patients with moderate heart problems, who are still not ill enough to go for a heart transplant and its related side effects. These patients may be those who may feel extreme tiredness, difficulty in walking short distances and do not get much help from medications.The new device is a balloon like structure pressed against the aorta or the main artery of the heart. The device is kept in place by a polyester wrap stiched around the artery and looks like a cuff around the artery. The rhythmic expansion of the heart is simulated by the ballon and it thus reinforces the pumping actions of the heart and forces the blood to fow at a faster sped down the artery.
The device is monitored by electrical leads that transfers the data to a processor carried by the patient in person, thet is battery operated. The processor instructs the ballon to inflate or deflate using air from an external pump.
With the fitting of the device on the 56 year old patient will lead to more observations being made on the feasibilty of the device.
