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A cost-effective mechanical heart pump for patients facing cardiac failure could soon be a reality.
KR Balakrishnan, a cardiac sciences expert heading a heart failure management centre at Fortis Malar, and TTK Healthcare have developed a prototype that can massively cut surgery costs. In medical parlance, Ventricular Assist Devices are usually stopgap arrangements to keep the heart pumping till the patient goes through a heart transplant.
The longevity of the pump has been estimated as six months, keeping in mind the average waiting time in the country for heart transplantation – three months, says Balakrishnan.
The device necessary for this complex surgery is usually imported from the US at a cost of $100,000.
“I am excited about this because there are not many people in this country who can afford ₹ 60-70 lakh for a heart surgery,” says Balakrishnan, a renowned cardiothoracic surgeon specialising in heart and lung transplant. Once commercialised, the pump can be mass-produced at under ₹ 1 lakh.
The ingenuity lies in utilising an Intra-Aortic Balloon Pump, a freely available equipment that is used to increase cardiac output through a computer-controlled system. We incorporated our polyurethane heart pump into this system, to avoid the huge power costs associated with the imported devices, says Balakrishnan.
The team has applied for a patent; the device has been tested on animals and led to “satisfactory results.”
“We are awaiting some guidelines from the Drug Controller General of India so that we can move ahead towards clinical implant experiments in humans,” he said.
They have approached the Department of Biotechnology for funding of ₹ 4 crore, which will chiefly go towards research into commercialising the concept.
Chennai-based TTK Healthcare is a large manufacturer of the artificial heart valve it had developed in association with Sree Chitra Tirunal Institute of Medical Sciences and Technology. Over 200 hospitals across the country where heart-valve replacement surgeries are performed use TTK Chitra Valves.
“The valve component costs much more than the pump and lasts over 20 years, and I’m grateful TTK agreed to partner with me,” says Balakrishnan.
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