Engineers at the University of Leeds, have developed a heart assist device which could free patients from a life-time of anti-rejection drugs.

Traditional implanted heart assist devices suck blood from the ventricles before expelling it into downstream vessels. As these devices come into contact with the blood stream, patients require life-long drug therapy to suppress the immune system and prevent blood clotting.

Made from biocompatible material which will not be rejected by the body, the specially-woven web wraps around the heart avoiding contact with the blood stream. Inbuilt sensors recognise when the heart wants to beat and trigger a series of miniature motors which cause the web to contract – increasing the internal pressure and assisting the heart to pump the blood around the body.

Read more at The University of Leeds