FDA approves HeartMate II mechanical heart pump for heart-failure patients

Friday, May 2, 2008 - 21:28 in Health & Medicine

Heart failure patients at NewYork-Presbyterian Hospital/Columbia University Medical Center were among the first to be implanted with the HeartMate® II LVAS (Left Ventricular Assist System) -- a miniature mechanical pump that helps weak hearts pump blood -- that has now received approval by the FDA as of April 21 for broad use as bridge to transplantation. As part of clinical trials leading to approval, 22 patients received the new device at NewYork-Presbyterian/Columbia -- more than any other hospital in the New York area.

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