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Biotech / Medical : ABMD - Replacement Heart System -- Ignore unavailable to you. Want to Upgrade?

To: High-Tech East who wrote (89)	7/29/2001 11:26:55 AM
From: High-Tech East	Respond to of 147

more good news Sunday, July 29, 2001 *Patient Joins Video Conference* by Dick Kaukas - The Courier-Journal The man who received the first fully implantable artificial heart at Jewish Hospital July 2 felt well enough yesterday to briefly take part in a discussion of his historymaking case. He did so from the hospital, where he is recovering, in a video conference with others in Boston. According to a statement from Abiomed Inc., the Danvers, Mass., company that developed the AbioCor artificial heart, the patient ''participated briefly'' in the closed meeting for doctors and others at the five medical centers that are working with Abiomed. ABIOMED'S statement came a day after the man's Louisville doctors said for the first time that he had been able to take a few steps, with assistance. The statement did not elaborate on what the patient did or said during the videoconference. There was no update on his condition yesterday. Abiomed said that yesterday's meeting provided a ''detailed evaluation'' of the heart's performance, and also focused on questions addressing patient selection, care after surgery and patient progress. The patient's University of Louisville doctors, Laman Gray and Robert Dowling, and hospital officials have characterized the AbioCor's performance as "flawless." Dowling said last night that the Boston session generally reviewed information that had been publicly discussed, and focused on technical details for nurses and surgeons. He declined to elaborate. Gray, Dowling and Abiomed officials have adhered to a policy of not giving daily briefings on how the patient is doing, but to note significant changes when warranted. ON FRIDAY, Gray and Dowling said that the patient, who is in his 50s, continues to use a ventilator to help him breathe when he is sleeping, but doesn't need it at other times and has been talking to his family, hospital staff and friends. The doctors have said the patient wants his identity kept confidential, but plans on answering media questions ''at the appropriate time.'' They have said he has diabetes and was so weakened by heart problems that before the operation he could only walk a short distance. Medical ethicists have criticized Abiomed for not providing more information about the patient's condition, contending that the company might be tempted to conceal it if the patient wasn't doing well. David Lederman, president and chief executive officer of Abiomed, said he believes ''media attention is highly seductive, and therefore we must discipline ourselves not to engage in premature celebration'' about the patient's progress. courier-journal.com