Book excerpt: This book provides a comprehensive overview of mechanical circulatory support of the failing heart in adults and children. The book uniquely combines engineering knowledge and the clinician’s perspective into a single resource, while also providing insights into current and future development of mechanical circulatory support technology, such as ventricular assist devices, the total artificial heart and catheter-based technologies for heart failure. Topics featured in this book include: The history of mechanical circulatory device development. Fundamentals of hemodynamics support. Clinical management of mechanical circulatory devices. Surgical implantation techniques. Current limitations of device therapies in advanced heart failure. Advanced and novel devices in the development pipeline. Opportunities for advancement in the field. Mechanical Support for Heart Failure: Current Solutions and New Technologies is a must-have resource for not only physicians, residents, fellows, and medical students in cardiology and cardiac surgery, but also clinical and basic researchers in biomedical engineering with an interest in mechanical circulatory support, heart failure, and new technological applications in medicine.