The Italian Artificial Heart Program.
In Italy, artificial heart development was promoted by virtue of a special program on technological and industrial development in areas related to cardiology and cardiosurgery. A first prototype series of electromechanical total artificial hearts (TAHs) and ventricular assist devices (VADs), with ball-screw-based actuation technology, has been developed, and preliminary bench tests and short-term animal implant experiments were performed. The project started with analysis and development of existing TAH and VAD models, and it included a fill-sensor-free control scheme and anatomical fitting studies using a three-dimensional computer model of the chest cavity. Second-generation prototypes are currently being developed, and they are scheduled for medium-term bench and in vivo testing by early 1994.
Tecnobiomedica S.p.A., Rome, Italy.
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Mambrito
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Arabia
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Chieco
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Ferrazzi
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Ferri
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Fierli
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Glauber
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Meli
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Zagara
D000818:Animals; D002417:Cattle; D011211:Electric Power Supplies; D004867:Equipment Design; D006354:Heart, Artificial; D006353:Heart-Assist Devices; D007558:Italy; D008422:Materials Testing; D011140:Polyurethanes; D016730:Program Development
D011140:Polyurethanes