NOVA Season 11 Episode 2 The Artificial Heart

The NOVA season 11 episode 2 is titled The Artificial Heart, which delves into the remarkable history of developing a man-made heart that can replace a damaged human heart.

The episode narrates the compelling story of the pioneering physicians and engineers who have been working on making an artificial heart to help millions of people suffering from heart diseases, which still remains the leading cause of death worldwide. The episode explores the challenges, controversies, and breakthroughs that revolutionized cardiovascular medicine and opened up new avenues of research.

The Artificial Heart takes the viewers on an emotional journey of the patients who were on the brink of death but were saved by the artificial heart. Along with personal anecdotes, the episode explains the science behind the artificial heart, exploring the mechanical and biocompatible aspects of creating a system that can sustain life.

To provide a historical context, the episode showcases the journey of Dr. Robert Jarvik, who developed the first artificial heart that was implanted in a human being, Barney Clark, in 1982. Dr. Jarvik's invention and the subsequent surgeries sparked debates about the ethical and legal issues surrounding life-support systems, as well as the challenges and risks involved in performing the implantation surgery itself.

The episode also highlights the role of other researchers, institutions, and organizations that helped improve and refine artificial heart designs over the decades. It profiles Dr. Michael DeBakey, a renowned heart surgeon who collaborated with engineers to develop an artificial heart that could aid patients awaiting transplantation. This design paved the way for the very first successful implantation of an artificial heart as a bridge to a heart transplant, which occurred in 1984 when a 43-year-old patient, William Schroeder, survived for 620 days with an artificial heart.

Since then, the field of artificial hearts has continued to evolve, with researchers exploring various approaches to create devices that cater to diverse patient needs, such as small-sized hearts for children. The episode also delves into current innovations, such as using the patient's own cells to create a personalized artificial heart and the use of soft robotics to create an artificial heart that mimics the real thing.

The Artificial Heart brings to light the immense challenges faced by researchers and clinicians in developing and implementing artificial heart technology. These efforts continue to push the boundaries of medical science and offer hope to countless patients around the world suffering from heart diseases.

Overall, the NOVA season 11 episode 2 is a gripping and inspiring exploration of the quest for an artificial heart, which showcases the human spirit of innovation, resilience, and determination. It also highlights the complex ethical and clinical considerations that come with creating life-sustaining devices and the ongoing challenges in adapting technology to meet the needs of patients.