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Medics have transplanted a new-generation artificial heart into a human for the first time
Last reviewed: 01.07.2025
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Specialists from one of the French hospitals have performed the first-of-its-kind operation to transplant an artificial heart, the structure of which is fundamentally different from similar devices that currently exist. The announcement came from the French company "Karmat", which was created by the famous cardiac surgeon Alain Carpentier, the same company that developed the unique device capable of replacing the heart. The new development differs from similar models in that it does not require external adjustment of operation under changing loads. The operation of the new generation cardiac analogue is almost identical to the real organ. The development was carried out with the help of the aviation-comics association with the participation of other high-tech companies. The altitude and pressure sensors used in aviation monitor blood pressure and the reaction of the artificial organ to an increase or decrease in blood flow occurs almost instantly.
Alain Corpentien supervised the operation to transplant an artificial organ in one of the hospitals in Paris. The artificial organ was transplanted to a man who was in danger of dying from acute heart failure in the very near future. After the operation, the man was transferred to the intensive care unit of the hospital, and doctors noted that the patient was in normal condition. According to some information, similar operations are planned to be carried out in three other French hospitals in the coming months.
The specialists have been developing the new unique device for about twenty years. Such a period, considering that such a project is quite complex, is not that long. Currently, the cost of such a device, which weighs 900 grams, is 80 thousand euros. As the developers themselves believe, the new development will save tens of thousands of lives annually. In France alone, about 32 thousand people die from heart failure every year, most of whom do not wait for their turn for a donor organ transplant.
One of the representatives of the developer company specified that all previous cardiac analogues had only one pump, which allowed replacing only one ventricle and one atrium. The new development of French engineers has two pumps built in, which allows replacing a diseased heart almost completely, while the natural blood circulation with a small and large circle will also continue in the human body.
This device is a real breakthrough in cardiology. Artificial heart substitutes existed before, but none of them provided absolute autonomy to a person. Patients with such an artificial heart will be able to move more freely and easily, the risk of blood thickening is reduced.
The medical community is very interested in the results of the first operation and research in this area. The developers of the unique organ and the doctors were congratulated by the French Minister of Health. As the Minister noted, France has proven that it is capable of making scientific innovations and can be proud of being the first in this extremely important area.
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