2021-11-11
Realheart to continue animal studies using clinical version of its artificial heart
''Moving on to the ''human'' version of Realheart TAH in our animal studies is the best use or our resources – and a major step forward. In the surgeries performed this autumn, we have confirmed that the system works well and the new surgical team has been able to implant it successfully. In addition, we have identified further design improvements, so now we are choosing to implement these and focus entirely on our clinical version," said Realheart CEO Ina Laura Perkins.
Already last year, Realheart presented a conceptual version of the artificial heart that will be used in human clinical trials in 2023. It will, among other things, have a smaller size and greater pumping capacity than the prototype currently used in animal studies.
Realheart will now allocate more staff to work on finalising this clinical version. In January, the company plans to conduct a couple of surgeries with a hybrid version to evaluate the latest design changes and train surgeons, before conducting the first implantations with the clinical version of the heart in animals in the spring.
The design improvements will also further simplify the surgeons' work, in line with Realheart's ambition to create the most user-friendly artificial heart on the market.
‘’It is thanks to the vast expertise that exists in the company today, with experience from five other artificial hearts, that we have been able to get to where we are now. Now we are moving forward with the version of our artificial heart that we plan to use in clinical trials – and by making the product even easier to use, we are likely to increase interest from the medical community as well," said Ina Laura Perkins.
