A team of engineers and cardiologists from Jena, Germany, has developed and successfully tested the first pulsatile, catheter-based, electrocardiogram-controlled heart pump in the world. This device can be inserted within 15 minutes in emergency cases, such as right heart failure or cardiogenic shock, and can provide circulation support of more than 3 litres per minute.
Prof Markus Ferrari, now Chief Physician of the Department of Internal Medicine I at the Helios Dr Horst Schmidt Clinics in Wiesbaden, Germany, was looking for a way to bring down this pressure and keep blood flowing through the veins.