A mechanical device designed to assist the atria of the heart, particularly in patients with severe atrial dysfunction or certain types of heart failure.
How It Works
- Placed within or near the atrial chamber(s)
- Assists by enhancing atrial pressure or flow rate, helping fill the ventricles more effectively
- Some designs are minimally invasive and synchronized with the cardiac cycle
Notes
- Supports blood movement from the atria to the ventricles
- Helps improve cardiac output in patients where atrial contraction is insufficient
- Still under research and not as widely used as Ventricular Assist Device
- May be part of hybrid support systems or soft robotic devices
- Can benefit certain patients with diastolic dysfunction or atrial failure