Progress toward an Orthotopic Cardiac Prosthesis

This is a report emanating from a 31-member interdisciplinary group, some with 10 years experience in artificial heart research. The development of an implantable, biventicular orthotopic cardiac prosthesis is described, and the result of 24 calf experiments are summarized. Rather than pursuing solely long-term survival, the team has sought an understanding of the pathophysiological mechanisms which have limited the duration of such experiments to date.