Every year approximately 20 million people worldwide suffer from heart failure, nearly 5 million of them in the US alone. In many of these cases a heart transplant is the best chance for survival. Unfortunately only about 2,500 donor hearts are available each year for transplant, leaving many patients with little hope of survival.

NASA has developed a unique device called The DeBakey Ventricular Assist Device or (VAD). This device can prolong life until a suitable transplant heart is available. Designed by Dr. Michael Debakey and refined by NASA engineers, this device uses advanced flow technologies first used on the Space Shuttle to increase blood circulation in heart-failure patients awaiting a transplant.

Tonya St. Romain spoke with Greg Abner at NASA’s Johnson Space Center to find out more.

Additional Information
http://www.methodisthealth.com/vad/