AbioCor Heart Implanted at Jewish Hospital in Louisville

The first implant of an AbioCor artificial heart in nine months was performed at Jewish Hospital in Louisville and the unidentified patient was reported in critical but stable condition.

The clinical trials of the self-contained device -- permitted only in patients so sick they are ineligible for a donor heart transplant -- fell behind schedule after six of the first seven recipients died -- two before the implant operations were completed and three from strokes.

One recipient, Tom Christerson, 71, of Central City, KY., who received his device Sept. 13, 2001, has been home since last April, and recently celebrated his 55th wedding anniversary.

"I've had a wonderful couple of years," Christerson said, adding that his "thoughts and prayers" are with the latest recipient.

The patient was described only as "desperately ill" and his identity was withheld at the request of his family.

AbioMed Inc. of Danvers, MA, has FDA approval for another seven more heart implants in clinical trials.

Other sources: Jewish Hospital