VCU and Stanford (and probably some other centers) have had total artificial hearts (TAH) in patients a lot longer than this (years longer). The difference is the indication. Currently TAH are not approved by the FDA as a "destination device" only a "bridge to transplant." Of course with super high titers that a lot of these patients have the TAH is practically a destination device anyway. The same thing happened with the VADs (ventricular assist devices) until they were around long enough to be approved as destination devices.
The bottom line is that the media and medical information do not mix. What a waste of a story.
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VCU and Stanford (and probably some other centers) have had total artificial hearts (TAH) in patients a lot longer than this (years longer). The difference is the indication. Currently TAH are not approved by the FDA as a "destination device" only a "bridge to transplant." Of course with super high titers that a lot of these patients have the TAH is practically a destination device anyway. The same thing happened with the VADs (ventricular assist devices) until they were around long enough to be approved as destination devices. The bottom line is that the media and medical information do not mix. What a waste of a story.