Seventh patient implanted with Ventracor artificial heart

The seventh patient has been implanted with Ventracor's (ASX:VCR) VentrAssist left ventricular assistance device as part of the company's pilot trial at the Alfred Hospital in Melbourne.

Up to 10 implants are expected to be conducted for the trial.

Chief medical investigators Prof Don Esmore and Prof David Kaye said the patient, who was gravely ill prior to the implant, was now in a critical but stable condition.

The sixth patient implanted with the device in June remains in a stable condition at The Alfred.

Earlier this month Ventracor won two Australian Research Council linkage grants -- worth $787,000 and $440,000 respectively -- for clinical research and product development work to be undertaken with the University of NSW and the University of Technology, Sydney.

The company's share price, which fell below AUD$1.30 in May, has taken a turn for the better in recent weeks. At time of writing shares were trading at AUD$1.75.