UT Southwestern Patient First In North Texas To Receive Newest-generation Heart Failure Device

UT Southwestern Medical Center transplanted a left-ventricular assist device (LVAD) as a transition before receiving a heart transplant. It is meant to improve heart function. LeBlanc, the patient, had been diagnosed with heart failure and was having great discomfort with the use of defibrillators.

The HeartWare Ventricular Assist System is two and half times smaller than the earliest versions of LVADs and only has one movable part. The pump rests inside the patient's chest, connected to a cable attached to an external controller. A small cable attached to the device exits the body and connects to an externally worn controller. The controller is powered by a battery pack.

This article interests me because I attended a lecture on heart pumps in high school. It is impressive because the pump really isn't a pump at all, which showcases bioengineer's ingenuity. I think it is important for people, especially engineers, to think beyond currently working systems in order to innovate solutions to problems.

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