Sinai Samaritan Medical Center, Aurora Health Care

The project was an effort to design a totally implantable synthetic heart. The project was spearheaded by well-known Milwaukee heart surgeon Robert J. Flemma, after he developed a progressive heart-weakening disorder called idiopathic cardiomyopathy. Doctor Flemma eventually died while waiting for a heart transplant.


CAD model was refined for easier machining and access for polishing to ultra high luster finish.

Left: Master models were machined from acrylic stock. The master had to be highly polished to medical grade standards to inhibit potential platelit rupture and subsequent clotting.

Right: Master was used to create and RTV (rubber) mold that could be used to cast replicas. RTV picks up the surface quality of the master and replicates this in the copies. Various other clamping rings were also need for arterial attachment to the device.