首款国产介入式人工心脏来了
第一财经·2025-12-25 15:58

Core Viewpoint - The recent approval of China's first interventional artificial heart marks a significant milestone in the domestic medical technology sector, with multiple companies actively engaged in the development of artificial heart products [3][6][15]. Group 1: Product Development and Market Dynamics - Shenzhen Core Medical Technology Co., Ltd. has received approval from the National Medical Products Administration (NMPA) for its interventional artificial heart product, which is part of a growing market with over ten companies involved in similar developments [3][15]. - The interventional artificial heart, also known as the percutaneous ventricular assist device (pVAD), is currently dominated by Abiomed's Impella, which has not yet received approval in China [5][6]. - Core Medical's previous product, the CorHeart6, has a market share exceeding 45% in the domestic market for implantable artificial hearts (LVAD) as of 2024 [6][15]. Group 2: Technical Controversies - The CorHeart6 product has faced technical disputes regarding its classification as a "fully magnetic levitation" device, with experts arguing that it only utilizes "magnetic levitation bearings," which could impact patient outcomes [7][9]. - Concerns have been raised about the safety of similar technologies, with past instances of devices using magnetic levitation bearings being withdrawn from the market due to safety issues [9]. Group 3: Market Potential and Growth - The global market for artificial hearts is projected to grow from $970 million in 2019 to $2.07 billion by 2024, with a compound annual growth rate (CAGR) of 16.4%, and is expected to reach $9.82 billion by 2033 [15][16]. - The interventional artificial heart market is anticipated to expand significantly due to a higher number of potential patients compared to implantable devices, which are limited by surgical complexity and patient eligibility [12][14]. - The number of high-risk percutaneous coronary intervention (PCI) procedures is expected to reach 221.7 million globally by 2024, with a CAGR of 12.1% from 2019 to 2024, indicating a growing demand for interventional artificial hearts [14][15]. Group 4: Industry Challenges and Future Directions - The artificial heart sector is characterized as a "slow track" due to long development cycles, complex clinical validations, and stringent regulatory requirements, making profitability challenging for companies [16]. - Experts emphasize the need for ongoing research into the hemodynamic effects of artificial hearts, as they differ significantly from natural hearts in blood flow dynamics [16]. - Future advancements in artificial heart technology are expected to focus on wireless, miniaturized, and intelligent designs to enhance patient outcomes and expand applications [16].