For the first time, doctors at an Israeli hospital implanted a device to assist a patient suffering from diastolic heart failure.

The trial performed at Haifa’s Rambam Hospital implanted a device into the heart of a 72-year-old Canadian man, suffering from diastolic heart failure, who volunteered for the procedure after hearing about from his doctor, The Times of Israel reported.

According to the Times, Robert MacLachlan, asked to have the CORolla device implanted into his heart after hearing about it from his cardiologist who also told him of Rambam’s international reputation.

Diastolic heart failure means that the heart does not fill properly with blood while beating. Forty percent of patients diagnosed with the condition die within five years. Symptoms include shortness of breath, fatigue, swollen legs, and the lack of stamina to perform exercise or even simple physical tasks.

The CORolla device is a spring-like mechanism that pushes against the walls of the left ventricle helping it to expand, allowing it to fill with blood.

The device was invented by Dr. Yair Feld, a cardiologist at Rambam Health Care Campus, Dr. Yotam Reisner and Dr. Shay Dubi.

According to Professor Gil Bolotin, who heads the cardiac surgery department at Rambam and co-led the team that implanted the device, there are several patients interested in having the device implanted.

Israel’s Health Ministry has approved up to ten trials of the CORolla implant.

[Photo: Rambam HCC / YouTube]