MAN INVENTS HIS OWN HEART CURE

August 9, 2004

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Aug 9 2004

Tal's op success

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A BRITISH engineer has come up with his own treatment for a deadly heart

disorder.

Doctors told Tal Golesworthy he could drop dead at any time from the rare

hereditary condition Marfan Syndrome.

It attacks the valves to the heart and weakens the aorta.

He was advised to have risky open-heart surgery but the 47-year-old decided

it wasn't good enough and set up his own research unit.

Despite having no medical training he raised £200,000 for the project and

after four years had a simple, low-cost device that strengthens the aorta.

The tiny wire stent, a tube which fits inside the artery near the heart, was

implanted at London's Royal Brompton Hospital.

Tal of Cheltenham, Glos, had the operation 10 weeks ago and has since

returned to work, is driving a car and even won a croquet tournament.

Yesterday Tal, who hopes his device will benefit some of Britain's 10,000

sufferers, said: " I didn't like what was on offer and I thought, 'I can do

better than that'.

" I feel hugely relieved my future health is now assured. "

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