A new heart-lung support system for mobile applications promises to make life-saving treatment more accessible to patients within and outside hospitals.
The portable Cardiohelp system from German company Maquet Cardiopulmonary AG replaces and controls the patient’s circulatory and pulmonary functions from outside the body.
The system has gained CE Mark approval following trials in 18 hospitals, in nine countries. It is now available worldwide.
Many patients with heart and lung disease experience a dangerous lack of oxygen supply to vital organs. Their lives can be saved by rapid connection to a mechanical circulatory support. Before now, this could only be provided by 250kg heart-lung machines.
Cardiohelp weighs only 10kg and is the size of a piece of hand luggage. It is approved for ground and air transport, and can be carried by a single person. It is suitable for use in cardiac surgery, cardiology, intensive care and emergency treatment.
The new system is more cost-effective than conventional heart-lung machines, but creates new possibilities for protective ventilation: the volume of blood outside the body is minimised, so less strain is put on the patient.
Maquet Cardiopulmonary AG is based in Hirrlingen, Germany. Maquet UK is based in Sunderland.
Cardiohelp