This is great news for individuals who have weak hearts. There’s no need to be concerned; your heart will continue to beat normally even if it is feeble. Hridyantra, a challenge-based initiative to build an advanced artificial heart, commonly known as a Left Ventricular Assist Device (LVAD), for patients with end-stage heart failure, has been unveiled by IIT Kanpur’s School of Medical Research and Technology (SMRT).
An LVAD, or artificial heart, is a pump used in patients with end-stage heart failure as a bridge while waiting for a heart transplant or as a destination therapy for those who are unable to go in for a transplant, according to an official statement.
It’s a battery-powered mechanical pump that helps the left ventricle (the heart’s main pumping chamber) pump blood to the rest of the body.
According to the institute, the initiative was developed in conjunction with India’s major hospitals and will be led by a group of innovators with relevant experience who would be mentored by a task force of industry professionals.
“The programme that provides an innovative platform for enterprising problem solvers will not only enrich the health ecosystem of the country but will also lead the way in multidisciplinary biomedical research and innovation,” said IIT-K head Prof Abhay Karandikar. This is also a step toward realizing the vision of an Atmanirbhar Bharat (self-sufficient India) by providing essential research and development funding to indigenous talent.”
“The execution of this unique competition-based programme will begin with the deployment of a multi-disciplinary team of fellows who will undergo clinical immersion at Narayana Health Hospitals for understanding the clinical nuances associated with cardiac surgery,” said Prof S Ganesh, deputy director of IIT Kanpur and in-charge of SMRT. The fellows will next proceed to IIT Kanpur to commence the product development process.”
According to the deputy director, LVADs must now be imported and are highly expensive. The initiative’s goal is to reduce costs by using local technologies while maintaining high quality.
Basic sciences, medical, and engineering graduates, as well as graduates from any discipline with relevant expertise, would be eligible to compete for the opportunity to design India’s first LVAD system.
The project is seed-funded by Padma awardee Sudha Murthy and the Indian Council of Medical Research.
