Scientists at the Indian Space
Research Organisation or ISRO have used
material and technology used to build rockets
to create a small device that pumps blood
and is seen as a step towards making an
artificial heart.
The Made-in-India left ventricle assist device
weighs 100 gm and will help people who
need heart transplants, replicating the
function of a part of the heart that pumps
blood.
It is being tested right now by a team of
surgeons on animals and is expected to be
ready for use on humans only after a few
years of extensive testing. The device was
recently tested on five pigs at a hospital in
Thiruvananthapuram for a six-hour
experiment which doctors said was
successful.
The device is made of biocompatible titanium
alloy and can pump blood at the rate of 3 to
5 litres per minute. Similar imported heart
pumps cost crores of rupees, but the ISRO
version is expected to cost only Rs 1.25 lakh.
"Material used in a rocket, the mechanism
used in a rocket, electronics used in a rocket
are combined to form the device... which is
useful as a first step towards heart
transplantation. This device was tested in a
pig, and it was found that the pig was alive
after fitting it. The other organs of the animal
were intact. This shows that it is a very good
alternative for an artificial heart," Dr K Sivan,
Director of the Vikram Sarabhai Space Centre
in Thiruvananthapuram told NDTV.
A team which includes two dozen experts like
metallurgists, electronic engineers, flow
mechanics and conduction specialists have
worked for over six years to build the pump
and they describe it as work in progress.
"This is one of the examples of how work
that is done for rocket technology or satellite
technology can help human beings. This is
an alternate system in case the human heart
has difficulties in pumping blood. It provides
a bypass pumping system that can definitely
help human lives," ISRO chairman Dr Kiran
Kumar said.
Research Organisation or ISRO have used
material and technology used to build rockets
to create a small device that pumps blood
and is seen as a step towards making an
artificial heart.
The Made-in-India left ventricle assist device
weighs 100 gm and will help people who
need heart transplants, replicating the
function of a part of the heart that pumps
blood.
It is being tested right now by a team of
surgeons on animals and is expected to be
ready for use on humans only after a few
years of extensive testing. The device was
recently tested on five pigs at a hospital in
Thiruvananthapuram for a six-hour
experiment which doctors said was
successful.
The device is made of biocompatible titanium
alloy and can pump blood at the rate of 3 to
5 litres per minute. Similar imported heart
pumps cost crores of rupees, but the ISRO
version is expected to cost only Rs 1.25 lakh.
"Material used in a rocket, the mechanism
used in a rocket, electronics used in a rocket
are combined to form the device... which is
useful as a first step towards heart
transplantation. This device was tested in a
pig, and it was found that the pig was alive
after fitting it. The other organs of the animal
were intact. This shows that it is a very good
alternative for an artificial heart," Dr K Sivan,
Director of the Vikram Sarabhai Space Centre
in Thiruvananthapuram told NDTV.
A team which includes two dozen experts like
metallurgists, electronic engineers, flow
mechanics and conduction specialists have
worked for over six years to build the pump
and they describe it as work in progress.
"This is one of the examples of how work
that is done for rocket technology or satellite
technology can help human beings. This is
an alternate system in case the human heart
has difficulties in pumping blood. It provides
a bypass pumping system that can definitely
help human lives," ISRO chairman Dr Kiran
Kumar said.