Counter-flow heart pump

A new counter-flow heart pump being developed by Queensland University of Technology has the potential to revolutionize future designs of the mechanical heart. It is the first device to combine the function of two pumps into one unit.

The heart pump's innovative design was based on a double-output centrifugal model that pushed the blood in a counter direction to ensure correct flow through both sides of the heart, and is the subject of a patent application. "The counter-flow pump is a bi-ventricular assist device (BVAD), meaning it supports both the left and right sides of the heart simultaneously," Lead researcher Associate Professor Andy Tan said.

Source: sciencedaily.comAdded: 7 May 2007