A device that allows doctors to operate on the heart while it beats!

Zee Media Bureau

Moscow: In a new medical development, a team of international scientists has developed a unique device that will help doctors to perform coronary artery bypass surgery without stopping the heart.

While a standard heart bypass surgery lasts four to five hours, with doctors having to stop the heart and entails lengthy post-operative rehabilitation, the new device allows doctors to operate on the heart while it beats.

The new stitching instrument enables surgeons to simply bore two holes through it and put the bypass in place, instead of sawing the breast-bone apart.

The entire operation lasts about 60 minutes, and the patient can be discharged on the following day.

The device is being developed by the scientists from MISiS National University of Science and Technology, Moscow and their colleagues from Australia's Endogene-Globetek medical company.

The stapler like device for mending blood vessels using strong staples makes it possible to quickly and safely restore blood vessels and to considerably reduce the post-operative period.

"The world has no other device like it. The main advantage is that it reliably patches up the blood vessels in no time," said Sergei Prokoshkin, a professor at pressure metal treatment department of MISiS National University of Science and Technology.

"In addition, it is very easy to quickly learn to use the stapler. It can be used during abdominal surgery to patch up blood vessels and other hollow body organs, including aortic aneurisms or during intestinal surgery," Prokoshkin added.

This innovative stapler uses special resilient nickel titanium (nitinol) reversible shape memory staples. These staples are inserted inside a cartridge which is then placed inside the polymer-body stapler's distal end.

Pre-clinical tests have already been completed and this technology has also been patented in Russia and Australia.

This Russian-Australian invention received an award at the 44th International Exhibition of Inventions of Geneva held last month.

Heart bypass surgery, also known as coronary artery bypass surgery, aims to replace damaged arteries in the heart. During the process, a surgeon uses blood vessels from another area of the body to repair the damaged arteries.

(With IANS inputs)