Final answer:
VAC Therapy Systems are suitable for patients needing a ventricular assist device as a bridge to heart transplant, particularly the MicroMed DeBakey VAD developed in collaboration with NASA, which is small, less invasive, and allows patient mobility.
Step-by-step explanation:
VAC, or Vacuum-Assisted Closure Therapy Systems, are suitable for patients who require a ventricular assist device (VAD). In particular, the collaboration between NASA, Dr. Michael DeBakey, Dr. George Noon, and MicroMed Technology Inc. has led to the development of the MicroMed DeBakey VAD. This device acts as a bridge to heart transplant and is adept at pumping blood throughout the body, thereby sustaining critically ill patients until they can receive a donor heart. The small size of the pump, weighing less than four ounces and measuring one by three inches, enables it to be less invasive and fit for smaller adults and children. Moreover, the low infection rate and battery operation of the VAD allow patients the mobility to perform everyday activities with ease.