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Show Dotlor veivs arftffa'allj The artificial heart is a mechanical device designed to i t pumping function of the natural heart. It is a complicated considering the natural heart function and the material blo-'t the pump is in contact with and is to pump, said Dr. Hans Hj";1 the Artificial Organs Division of the College of Medicine. t Dr. Zwart spoke to the University Dinner Club of anlJ Balloon pump which was developed in 1961 in the laboratory J. Kolff, chairman and head of the Division of Artificial Ore- ' University. It is made ofpolyurethaneand is connected by a ifc ! to the power source. Electronic equipment is used to J.) patient's electrocardiograph and to synchronize pumping oft with each heart beat, Dr. Zwart explained. j Animals as calves and sheep are used in trying toy,) workable in humans. One calf lived 92 hours with anartilia '1 his body but such a heart for humans is as yet "not invents; Dr. Zwart. The main problem is with foreign materials causing tfiebfe in the artificial heart. Some modes of pumping can cause rtir cell destruction. i "Cardiac assist devices are meant to function for a few ok' week in order to give the heart a rest until it can functions ! again. Much work is going on now to perfect these devices.!;! said. I When asked about the future of heart transplants, he si. improved technology one can expect problems of reject 1 solved, but he pointed out that heart donors today are scarce. I |