Zurich Heart

Credit: ETH Z¨¹rich / Paper Art: Katrin Rodegast, Picture: Ragnar Schmuck; Stadtplan: Hallwag K¨¹mmerly+Frey AG

"Zurich Heart" is a visionary interdisciplinary flagship project of the University Medicine Zurich (Hochschulmedizin Z¨¹rich). The project aims at developing a fully implantable artificial heart. In industrial nations, approximately 1-2% of the population suffers from severe heart failure summing up to 10 million people in Europe. Heart transplantation or the implantation of an artificial heart is the only treatment option for severe heart failure. Nearly 20 research groups of ETH Zurich, the University of Zurich, the German Heart Center Berlin and other partner institutions combine their synergies in a visionary approach to improve the contemporary ventricular assist devices. Innovative components for transcutaneous energy supply, improved surface materials to avoid thromboembolic complications, highly efficient and adaptive regulation and sensor technology as well as soft materials will be the essence of the "Zurich Heart".