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News
A peer-reviewed study in Nature Scientific Reports found that the Realheart® total artificial heart (TAH) causes about six times less blood damage (hemolysis) than the only FDA-approved artificial heart in wide clinical use. The device also preserved a key clotting protein, von Willebrand factor, reducing the risk of bleeding complications. These findings bolster the safety case for Realheart® ahead of its clinical trials.
A new peer-reviewed study published in Nature Scientific Reports found that the Realheart® total artificial heart (TAH), developed by Scandinavian Real Heart AB, produces roughly six times less hemolysis (blood cell damage) compared to the only FDA-approved artificial heart currently in wide clinical use. The lab-based study simulated full-body circulation — including both systemic and lung circulation — making it one of the most clinically realistic head-to-head comparisons to date.
Beyond raw blood damage, the Realheart® TAH also showed a significant advantage in preserving von Willebrand factor, a protein critical for blood clotting. Damage to this protein is a known complication of continuous-flow heart pumps and can lead to acquired von Willebrand syndrome, a serious bleeding disorder. Both pulsatile devices in the study preserved the protein's function, unlike the continuous-flow reference pump.
Why it matters: For patients awaiting heart transplants, artificial hearts carry real risks of blood damage and bleeding complications. If Realheart®'s lab results translate to clinical settings, it could represent a meaningful safety improvement over existing devices — potentially reducing stroke, bleeding, and other device-related complications.
