Long J W
Utah Artificial Heart Program, LDS Hospital, Salt Lake City 84103, USA.
Ann Thorac Surg. 2001 Mar;71(3 Suppl):S176-82; discussion S183-4. doi: 10.1016/s0003-4975(00)02635-7.
This paper describes the HeartMate left ventricular assist device (ThermoCardiosystems Inc, Woburn, MA) technology, which has been successfully introduced into the clinical arena with more than 2,400 implants as of the year 2000. The review summarizes the clinical experience, and identifies the benefits and limitations of the current state-of-the-art technology of the leading implantable circulatory support system.