Journal of medical and dental sciences
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This paper reviews the current status and future perspectives of the artificial heart research that was started in 1957 by Akutsu and Kolff. During the 1960's, although not much progress was made in increasing animal survival time with artificial hearts, clinical applications were already made for both a ventricular assist device in 1962 and total artificial heart (TAH) in 1969 followed by a second TAH application in 1981. Both TAH applications were done as bridges to heart transplantation. ⋯ In, the 21st century, we will see prevalent clinical applications of various circulatory support devices from pulsatile VAD, pulsatile TAH to continuous flow VAD. These devices will be combined with genetic treatment to re-generate the myocardium and recover the failing heart. Complete recovery of the myocardium may become possible through therapy combining circulatory assist devices and biotechnology.