us leaders march ahead., page-6

re: us leaders march ahead - mm newsletter POSTED: 4:31 pm CDT September 16, 2004
UPDATED: 4:49 pm CDT September 16, 2004

LINCOLN, Neb. -- An experimental artificial heart has been successfully implanted into a patient in a Lincoln hospital.

The technology is about the size of a C battery.

Doctors at the Bryan-LGH Heart Institute said it is much smaller and will last longer than the old Heartmate technology.

Artificial hearts are used as a bridge product while the patient waits for a donor heart.

"As this type of technology evolves, I think it will be more likely to implant a mechanical device as a permanent implant where they are going to live for a long time," said Dr. Edward Raines.

Bryan Heart Institute is one of 20 transplant facilities in the country testing the new heart implant.