Featured: Gentle Support That Follows Your Heart’s Rhythm
Featured: Gentle Support That Follows Your Heart’s Rhythm
Highlighted on July 10, 2025، St Vincent’s Hospital – Sydney, Australia
1. Historic First-in-Human Implantation
• On May 28, 2025, surgeons at St Vincent’s Hospital in Sydney implanted CorWave’s new wave-membrane LVAD, marking the world’s first clinical use of this innovative heart pump.
2. A Brief History of Artificial Heart Devices
• 1963: The first LVAD (Left Ventricular Assist Device) was used to support heart pumping in a patient.
• 1982: The Jarvik-7, a full artificial heart, was implanted in Barney Clark, who lived for 112 days with it.
3. Is an LVAD a “True” Artificial Heart?
• No — An LVAD supports the heart’s function; it does not fully replace it.
• A total artificial heart replaces both ventricles. While devices like the Jarvik-7 did that, LVADs are more common because they offer support without complete replacement.
4. What Makes CorWave’s LVAD Different
• It uses a soft, wave-like membrane that mimics the natural motion of a healthy heart.
• Unlike traditional LVADs that provide constant, non-pulsatile flow, CorWave’s LVAD preserves the natural pulse.
• This pulsatile flow helps maintain better synchronization with the body’s natural rhythm.
5. First Human Trial Success
• The patient had advanced heart failure.
• After the implant, the patient was discharged in good condition and showed no device-related complications at 30 days.
6. Why the Pulse Matters
• A natural pulse improves blood vessel health and supports vital organs.
• Traditional continuous-flow pumps may increase the risk of:
• Bleeding
• Tissue damage
• Vascular stress
• CorWave’s design may reduce these risks by restoring physiological pulsatility.
7. Expert Feedback
• Dr. Christopher Hayward (Cardiologist):
“The patient’s recovery is very encouraging.”
• Dr. Paul Jansz (Cardiac Surgeon):
“Preserving the natural pulse could be a true game-changer.”
8. What’s Next?
• Currently, the HeartMate 3 by Abbott is the only FDA-approved LVAD in the U.S.
• CorWave’s successful human implantation marks a major step toward FDA approval of their next-gen pulsatile device.
Bottom Line
• LVADs are not full artificial hearts, but CorWave’s new design bridges the gap — combining strong mechanical support with natural pulse preservation.
• This wave-driven, pulsatile pump could mark a new era in heart failure treatment.