HOUSTON (AP) - An Abiocor artificial heart was implanted in an 11th patient earlier this month, a spokeswoman for the Texas Heart Institute said Friday.
The operation took place May 1, said Kathy Watson, spokeswoman for the Houston hospital. She said the operation was performed by Dr. O.H. Frazier, who performed two Abiocor implants in 2001 and another one earlier this year.
Abiomed of Danvers, Mass., has gained worldwide attention for its trial of the Abiocor, a self-contained, implantable replacement heart. Nine of the patients to receive an Abiocor heart have died after living for 53 to 512 days.
The 10th is in stable condition at the Texas Heart Institute, more than two months after the operation.
