The manufacturer says the specially engineered polyester fiber each filament being one-fifth the thickness of a human hair is highly biocompatible with human tissue and offers very little risk of rejection.

Just over two years ago, Evelyn went to an urgent care center for treatment of a cough and shortness of breath. She was given antibiotics, cough syrup and a diagnosis of bronchitis. But 10 days later on her 71st birthday extreme breathlessness and weakness forced her to go to a hospital emergency room. Doctors told her she had congestive heart failure.

Over the following months, Evelyn was prescribed a variety of medications to try to control her symptoms. Although some of the medications caused other unpleasant symptoms and Evelyn's quality of life continued to deteriorate, she was told that her age and illness were both too advanced for more aggressive alternatives such as a heart transplant.

While watching TV in the waiting room of a laboratory one day, she saw a CNN "Access Health" story about the "heart jacket." She later asked her son to download any information he could find. She called Access Health and Acorn's corporate offices. She eventually learned that Cedars-Sinai was participating in the study, and she persuaded her daughter to take her there for an evaluation by Dr. Khan, despite the fact that her healthcare contract would not cover the expense.

After Evelyn's examination, Dr. Khan ordered several tests that found that not only was Evelyn's heart enlarged, her mitral valve and tricuspid valve were leaking. He recommended surgical repair, but financial coverage was denied by her insurance pla
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Contact: Sandra Van
sandy@vancommunications.com
800-880-2397
Cedars-Sinai Medical Center
4-Aug-2002