The device - never used before - needed a special permit for use for the first time by the FDA (Food and Drug Administration) and the Ministry of Health.

The project, unique in its kind, has become indispensable because of the severity of illness of the baby and allow him to survive awaiting a heart transplant and whose conditions were not compatible with the use workarounds, such as cardiopulmonary bypass .

"In the month of March at the Hospital of the Infant Jesus of Rome was first implanted artificial heart ever smaller existing - explains Antonio Amodeo Manager of Mechanical Assistance Unit of the Hospital Niño Jesus"

"The device, a titanium pump only 11 grams capable of supporting a throughput of up to 1.5 liters per minute was used by the urgent need for a baby of 16 months suffering from dilated cardiomyopathy, a serious condition with ventricular function previously implemented the support system. "

"The prototype artificial heart laboratory developed under a research program of the U.S. National Institute of Health, has enabled the completion of treatment culminating in heart transplantation. Today, more than a month after surgery, the baby is healthy. "