IIT Kanpur's Hridyantra program to come up with India's most affordable artificial heart pump

Hridyantra is one of the most promising and praiseworthy medical device innovation programs of India. The School of Medical Research and Technology (SMRT) of IIT Kanpur announced the project earlier this year.

As per a recent update, it has been stated that the institute will be able to innovate highly advanced LVAD devices/artificial hearts which will be available in India at an affordable cost. The cost of Hridyantra's LVAD device will be 8 times less than an imported one.

The Left Ventricular Assist Device (LVAD) or an artificial heart is a battery-operated, mechanical pump that is used in people with end-stage heart failure. Named after the Left Ventricle, which is the main pumping chamber of the heart, this implantable device helps in pumping blood from the heart to the other parts of the body.

Notably, this device is used for patients requiring bridge-to-transplant therapy and destination therapy.

• Bridge-to-transplant therapy: This is a life-saving therapy for patients awaiting a heart transplant. LVAD is implanted by a surgical procedure to support the failing heart until a donated one becomes available for the transplant. In some cases, LVAD is able to restore the failing heart, terminating the need for a transplant.

• Destination therapy: Some patients who have heart complications require an external support system. In such cases, patients can receive long-term treatment using an LVAD, which can prolong and improve patients' lives.