National Quality Care Develops Wearable CHF Treatment Device

National Quality Care announced the development of a Wearable Ultrafiltration Device to remove excess salt and fluid from patients with Congestive Heart Failure (CHF), a major cause of hospitalizations and death for these patients

The prototype device is intended to be worn as a belt and operated with batteries, much like the company's Wearable Artificial Kidney device. This device is intended to work 24 hours a day, 7 days a week. It is anticipated that the use of this device will result in significant improvements in patients' quality of life and longevity while significantly reducing the enormous costs of treating this ever-growing CHF population.

For CHF patients, usually the heart has been weakened over time by a problem such as clogged arteries, high blood pressure, a defect in its muscular walls or valves, or some other medical condition. As a result, the body retains salt and water, which accumulate in the lungs, legs and other areas of the body. As the CHF progresses, the accumulation of excess water in the lungs impairs the person's ability to breathe and function normally.