Center for Circulatory Support Research
Hundreds of patients have benefited from U-M's expertise in circulatory support technology. Thanks to U-M's leadership in research, the field is growing bigger and better every year. Today, more than 40 percent of U.S. patients awaiting transplant have a ventricular assist device of some sort.
In fact:
- U-M regularly participates in important clinical trials that determine the safety and efficiency of new devices, such as the HeartMate , HeartMate II and the TandemHeart.
- Four out of the 25 patients in the U.S. in the HeartMate II clinical trial are U-M patients!
What is a clinical trial? Be informed!
A clinical trial is a research study in human volunteers to answer specific health questions. Carefully conducted clinical trials are the fastest and safest way to find treatments that work. Clinical trials are also referred to as “clinical research.”
Current Heart-Assist Devices Clinical Trials
Right now, the University of Michigan Center for Circulatory Support is participating in four heart-assist device clinical trials:
- A Multi-center Randomized Trial of the HeartMate II Left Ventricular Assist System for Destination Therapy
(Destination therapy or permanent support is a new treatment option for end-stage heart failure patients who are not eligible for cardiac transplantation.) - A Multi-center Clinical Evaluation of the HeartMate II Left Ventricular Assist System as a Bridge to Heart Transplantation
- A Multi-center Clinical Evaluation of the MicroMed DeBakey Left Ventricular Assist Device as a Bridge to Heart Transplantation
- The Effect of the Drug Clenbuterol on Myocardial Recovery in Patients on Left Ventricular Assist Device Support
